I Like...

I like to go out when it´s raining. Very few people are outside and the ones who are hurry the hell up to get home. Muffled by the rain´s own music, I can sing as loud as I feel. If it´s a warm summer storm I leave the umbrella home and I sing and dance till I´m soaking wet and blissfully exhausted.

I like going to the beach at fall. When the sun´s bright and warm but it doesn´t burn and, if you listen carefully, you can hear spirit´s whispers in the wind. I love walking by the seashore, sometimes for hours, collect seashells and meditate by a campfire. 

I like herbs and flowers. To fill my home with them, smell them, make natural crowns, healing and shooting teas and ointments. I like to see them grow and, strangely, I feel like they keep me company...

Dancing in the Rain, by Amira Rahim

I like dreams. All of them: daydreaming, lucid dreams and even nightmares. I like to re-tell my dreams, dissect them and draw meaning out of them. 

I like those special nights with the coven. I like the intimacy a dark room lit only by candles, a warm drink and our small yet close circle provides. Usually guarded by the foll moon it´s a night of guaranteed gossip, laughter, secrets and magic. 

I like kisses. Romantic, passionate kisses. The special ones, those kisses that freeze time and make your mind fuzzy. Long kisses that are sweet and acid, soft and rough but always warm. 

Even if it sounds crazy I like missing you, and him and he... I miss those private moments, I miss those first times... I miss the way I used to look at you in the eyes. 

I like to think new first times to miss will come... Maybe one will stay and make me feel home... 

My First Broken Spell.

Guilt, what a terrible feeling. 

If we feel guilty it must mean that we did something wrong. something we are ashamed of. But also that we repent and that we are willing to set things right.

I know I should not have given him the love potion, it was an act of despair. And though he was with me, I could see his mind wasn't there... I'm not entirely sure it was my magic's doing or if it all was going to happen anyways. What I did know is that it was all I wanted but not like that. 

Midnight Snow Songs, by Leonid Afremov

So, on the solstice night, I confessed it all to my sisters. And despite them being incredulous, mad and a little shocked at me for what I did they helped me cast a counter-spell and were very supportive, I am really blessed for having them. 

And I also came clear to him about the whole potion business. He knows I am a witch but he definitely was not expecting that. He obviously got really mad and probably felt betrayed. He has been keeping his distance ever since... I miss him and I hope I can see him again soon. 

I feel sad, but I'm focusing on the little things that make me happy and relying on my family at the moment. 

At least I don't feel guilty anymore. 

Happy holidays everyone!

Confusion, Secrets and Decisions.

Oops... It looks like I've been quite absent lately, I actually intended to write and publish a post for the summer solstice, but a series of events shifted my whole world. I thought I had things under control, but it seems that I am in a moment of change. 

Bridge of Caos, by Derek K. Nielsen

The guy I was "dating" left me. 

At work, my position was made redundant, so I got fired.

I applied for a uni course, after collecting all the required documentation... it got rejected. 

I had nothing. 

I'm guessing that a normal person would have been devastated but I know that everything is interconnected and I hold the view that everything happens for a reason, so I stayed calm, receptive, decentered and open to the energies. 

Maybe it all even was beneficial, perhaps I needed some turmoil to discover my resilience, I think it's good to treasure this kind of lessons, it also built my confidence up, shortly after losing my job I got a few interviews and landed a job. It isn't my dream job but... oh well it pays the bills. 

And then, unexpectantly, I met someone... We got on like a house on fire and things immediately heated up, after just a few days I won't say I'm in love, but now he's gone and I miss him deeply. Could it be that I am hungry for a relationship? 

Anyway, I'm taking all the above as signs and I have made the choice to change my life dramatically by moving to another country. Crazy? I know, but I don't care. 

Only a few people know the truth, I'm trying to keep it to myself for as long as I can. 

Uncertainty scares me.
  

He has shown signs that he likes me, but I've no idea how our relationship will develop, if at all. 

I'm afraid there is no turning back, and I don't know if I'll adapt there...

But still, somehow, I feel cheerful and optimistic on the inside. Weird, isn't it?

Happy Birthday Lirnfi!

Happy Birthday Lirnfi!

Wow 18 already it's hard to believe how time flies! It seems as though it was yesterday that we played that cars were monsters that fed on people to be able to move and had little plush-wars. 

You were always the quiet one, so I'm very happy to see that you've come out of your shell, that you are a little bit more out-there with Julia and I wish you the best with your tattoo artist passion, and though at that age you just want to eat the world and run wild let me advice you that sometimes is a good idea to slow down, to be a bit more centered and share your feelings. 

Even myself, though I'm technically a "man" I'm still a child in many aspects. And I'm starting to think that the moment of realizing that we're not as mature as we though is when we actually start maturing. 

So keep going and believe in yourself as much as I believe in you my darling. Apart from that, I'd also like to say thank you. 

Lirnfi Tubilda. 

Thank you for being a great support like the ground, though you were quiet and sometimes went unnoticed we could really feel  when you weren't there. Every time I think of you I remember the voice of consciousness, your amazing drawings, the days that you used to be my little princess and the amazing day when we could read each other's mind with telepathy! 

You are strong, talented and perceptive. You are on my mind every time I pass by the always green succulent plants, on the red berries of the Yew tree, in the deep blue and in the Tiger's eye crystals. I carry your heart. I carry it in my heart. 

So basically, happy birthday. But most importantly... Which color do you want your lollipop to be?

Consequences of Owning the Witch Title.

Considering that witchcraft has this dark misconception about it would you be outspoken about it?

I am. Because only through people recognizing you as a witch, seeing and knowing what you do and who you are will allow for the world to see us as what we are: a force of nature, wise women and men. 

Some witches might be afraid of discrimination or being feared, one of my now ex-boyfriends left me when he found out about my condition. 

Even worst my sister's first boyfriend left her coldly with a letter stating that as she was a "sinful" witch he could not risk his "salvation" by dating her as the "judgement day" was near. (this was 5 years ago by the way).

Circe, by John William Waterhouse

But also good things have comed out of being honest. The owner and manager of the first company I worked at felt it was very mature of me to embrace my way of life and being straightforward about it. I helped people that were raised in closed minded and restrictive cultures / religion to question some beliefs and think for themselves and it also helped people that felt the instinctive call for the craft to ask questions and even start practicing witchcraft. 

Every action has a consequence, but to let fear lead our decisions is not a good idea. Same goes for being gay or lesbian. We might suffer discrimination sometimes as many women do, or people with different racial backgrounds other than caucasian. But you know what they say, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. 

Maybe that's why I've always found women wiser and more reliable. 

Why do we tend to focus on our few differences when the things that unite us are much more deeper and significant? We all feel and bleed. We all share the same sky and the same ground. So basically try not to judge someone before meeting them no matter what color they eyes are, whom they love or what they wear. Love and cooperation are stronger than fear and hatred. So set an example with your actions and be true to yourself. At least that's what I believe and practice.   

The Theorem of the Elements.

As a Witch I was initiated in the understanding of life and the natural elements that make it up. To be able to do this we must leave aside preconceived ideas, beliefs and all personal prejudices. It is necessary to listen patiently, in silence and with reverence, one by one, the lessons of mother nature, which will allow to anyone that wants to, to see and know. Nature only discovers its truths to whom are receptive. Accepting the truths that it suggests and wherever they lead, we'll have in harmony with us the whole universe.

The Tubilda lineage discerns a bit from the mainstream view of the elements. Our culture comprises nine basic elements in Nature: Water, source of life and symbol of union. Earth, represented both by  any land that can serve as a home for plant organisms and in geological forces, a symbol of health and fertility. Plants, and especially trees, as they form the connection between the terrestrial world and the celestial one, symbol of balance. Metal, an element that includes not only metals for witches, but also minerals, gems and crystals. Symbol of protection. Fire, which comprises the process of combustion, as well as electricity, symbol of destruction and renewal. The Air, which comprises the atmosphere and its processes, symbol of freedom and inspiration. Light; The sun, the day and energy, symbol of wisdom. Darkness; The moon, the night time and rest, symbol of regeneration. And the Secret Element, which is all and nothing at the same time, symbol of magic and life.

Oriental Elements, by Yin Lum

In most Western pagan traditions, a rather extended model, only contemplates four Elements; Fire, Air, Water and Earth as well as a fifth Element in charge of boosting and balancing the vital energy known as Spirit or Ether. Each of them is linked to a cardinal point, a color and a part of the human being: Fire, red and east, as spirit, linked to action; Air, yellow and north, as mind, linked to thought; Water, blue and west, as emotions; And Earth, green and south, as the body. These are represented in the famous pentagram, also known as the five-pointed star.
The elements have a very important role in relation to magic and rituals, they use fire for magic that requires action, such as boosting or creating something or an invocation. The air is used for everything related to divination, that is, when magic is directed to other times and places or in those cases where we're looking for answers. Water is used in evocation spells, that is when we transform or manipulate feelings, emotions and other intangible things. And Earth in magic that seeks transformation, such as alchemy or the use of the cauldron. Many western research on the Elements concludes here, or add s attachments to "magical beings" such as salamanders-fire, sylphs-air, undines-water, and gnomes-earth. They also often include knowledge about herbalism or astrology and convey a spiritual connection to the Elements and visit natural sites, such as forests, with respect.

The Oriental tradition, however, counts five Elements; Water, Wood, Earth, Fire and Metal and use the following cycles of energy relationships to gain balance and power through age-old techniques such as Feng Shui or the I Ching:

POSITIVE CYCLE

Water nourishes plants,

Wood is used to feed Fire,

Which becomes ashes and returns to the Earth,

The Earth creates metals,

And Metal mineralizes water.

NEGATIVE CYCLE

Water extinguishes fire,

The heat of Fire melts metal,

Metals cut wood,

Plants consume the earth,

And the Earth blocks and make water muddy.

They also have their version of the Secret Element, the universal energy with the difference that they are two opposing but complementary strands rather than a single entity. Yin and Yang. These are dynamic in the sense that their energy fluctuates: when one increases, the other decreases. Energy concentration is a yin process, while the tendency for its displacement and propagation is a yang process. Western thought tends to think that yin and yang are fixed states, yet in the oriental tradition they are continually changing. In the West we give yin and yang a moral connotation; Are exclusive, or the one or the other, which isn't true under oriental standards. They are extremes of a single whole; A dynamic equilibrium in continuous change, it is only detrimental what is in imbalance.

The Powers and Abilities of Your Spirit.

The spirit, the soul, our energy... We talk about those terms frequently but... Up to what point do we actually know what they are, what they do? The spirit bursts in the deepest level of consciousness, it's the capacity to place oneself before the cosmos and  philosophize about the existential features of the human condition, aka, the meaning of life and death, the final destination of the world, why are we here, etc. 

It complements the emotional and the logical aspects of our self and it deepens experiences such as to love another person, to get immersed in a project you are passionate about, and helps to give meaning and sense to our acts.

Mother Earth, by Jaison Cianelli.

In order to get closer to our spiritual self we must understand the powers it grants us, no matter our religious beliefs. The following are a synopsis of the spiritual habilites recognized by what some philosophers, psychologists, and developmental theorists refer to as Spiritual intelligence.

Sense and meaning;

The spirit enables people to seek meaning, since it emerges from the depths of our being as a primary need. But from its experience of being unfinished, the spirit is always searching.

I believe there is an intimate relationship between happiness and meaning, because it directly affects the way of perceiving one's existence. Only a person who has the experience of living his/her everyday  life , in a meaningful way, enjoys a subjective perception of inner well-being.

I thin the fullness of a life depends on how one has used the time he/she has received as a gift.

Questioning Beyond limitations;

The spirit gives power to formulate ultimate questions of existence.

Such as why was I born? What is the point of my existence? What will happen after my death? Why do we suffer? Why do we struggle? What is worth living for? What is worth doing? How should I make sense of my existence? Etc.

The spirit wants to know the WHAT about things.

Taking perspective. Distancing;

It means to separate, to distance oneself, but still be. In doing so, one can see things in perspective, and can see itself from a distance. Only in this way is one able to think for oneself. And then you know that your center is out of this world, that you belong to no-one.

I am in my body. I control and dominate it. At the moment of taking distance, passion advances without limits, pushes fear away and expresses its inner world.

After years of trying to understand this I believe it means to live at a certain distance from the body, just and necessary to not be dominated by it while still being conscious of it and using its energies and possibilities. This power not only distances oneself from the environment, but also from ideas, convictions, beliefs and values. Allowing people to see them in perspective, to question and criticise them, and relegate some of them them if necessary.

I think that the spiritual power of taking distance is the only way to really understand something.

Self-transcendence;

Transcending means going beyond any border, not being a conformist, to keep moving forward.

The power of transcendent expresses a lack but at the same time a hope. This capacity empowers the human being to move towards the unknown. Transcend to open up to new perspectives, it is not the will to colonise or control, but the desire to overcome.

To transcend means, in some way, to shed the banal and the predictable, and to delve into the essential.

We are settled in a place, in circumstances, but at the same time, we aspire to do something that we are not yet, but we believe we can become.

Our nature as human beings evokes transition, a path or itinerary towards what is not yet. It is the motor of human life, the vital impulse that moves you to go beyond, to overcome any limit, to enter new worlds to live fully and intensely, thus enjoying reality in a more intimate way.

Love;

Love is the cause of life and what keeps it moving. Love is the sign and the justification. So love it all.

Laziness? Shake it off. Just strive, make an effort. Nothing more than this. And you will have justified your life. Empower and improve yourself, and you'll have already reformed the world.

The amusement;

It is one thing to exist, another very different thing is to be aware that one exists.

A caterpillar exists, but does it know it does, that it enjoys this wonderful possibility? I don't think it experiences the surprise of existing, nor the vertigo of temporal flow of life.

It is one thing to look, another thing is to admire reality. Which is closely linked to taking distance.

To admire and to be amused are a mental and emotional experience, they affect the corporal and physical but has its root in the spirit.

I thin it is so amazing that when you are aware that you are alive, and may not exist, then is when you recognise the ephemeral nature of one's being. You experience a surprise and you are led to love life and to enjoy it intensely, to turn your being in the world into a project.

And the world ceases to be obvious, banal and known, and we start perceiving it as it is; Deep, mysterious and enigmatic.

To be aware of oneself;

One of the spiritual powers empowers us for self-knowledge, mingling with intrapersonal intelligence; This enables "awakening" and openness. Thus I realise that not only I am and not only I live, I know of my being and my life.

Providing a double opening towards the interior (knowledge of oneself) and to the outside (the knowledge of things).

The human being inhabits a self-aware self and capable of contemplating the world, a free self that, by virtue of its freedom, can configure both its body and its soul.

Assess and value;

The spirit also serves to value. Assess and make value judgements about acts, decisions and omissions. Valuing is about identifying the assets and evils that a particular decision has generated in the past. For this it is basic to weigh, to observe the effects that it has had for oneself and for others.

Values ​​not only motivate progress in the field of knowledge. They are not merely responses of our feelings, but motives in a new sense. They demand a certain position of will.

What I decide at a given moment will determine not only the configuration of the life of that moment, but will be relevant to what I will become.

I find very curious how any decision creates a willingness to make a similar decision again. In this way that I become "( a violinist, an athlete, a doctor...)", or not, is something that is in the hands of my own freedom.

The call of values ​​comes through the spirit and this moves us to explore unknown territories and to perform amazing movements. This shows that the human being is an open work, a being that has the possibility of finishing himself.

To sense beauty;

A spiritually sensitive being finds delight in natural beauty, artistic manifestations and the simplicity of small things. It is able to detect beauty and enjoy it without pretending to possess it. It contemplates deeply the expressions of beauty that appear in reality, which allows him to enjoy more intensely the fact of owning life.

Happy Birthday Ierai and Eure!

Happy Birthday! 

Being the oldest of seven siblings I like to celebrate birthdays with a theme, before moving to the UK I got my siblings a pendant of their special crystal. This is a special post to my twin sisters, as it is their birthday today. I think I will adopt this as a new custom so you'll better start looking forward to me barging about how much I love my siblings!

I think we are pretty privileged in a way, as we are all quite close to each other but in a weird way I have kind of envied the relationship they have within the two of them. When they were little they had the most crazy fights! They would bit and punch each other in a violent rampage, yet if five minutes later somebody dared say something even slightly or reminiscently offensive, the other sister would jump to her feet and confront the offender without hesitation. 

I think we have shared some of the most special moments of our life together. We have shared our first love stories and concerns, invented games and dreamed together and spent countless hours sheltered under our sheets while we talked and giggled way past bed time. 

We always though that when we grew up we would all live together in grandma's house. Those dreams kinda got crushed by life, I mean... we all know now that the future is uncertain, but no matter where we are or what is going on in our lives I am certain, we will always remain close.

I don't want to just wish them a happy 19th birthday, but also I want so say thank you!

Ierai Tubilda

Ierai, thank you for being the fire that lights up the darkness, you have always been the mature one. Every time I think of you I remember your beautiful writing, the days we spent singing and casting love spells by the olive tree and I can't wait to see what the future holds for us! You are confident, strong, cheerful and vital. 

You are on my mind every time I walk by an Oak tree, every time I smell or use the Rosemary on my garden, you are in the turquoise stones and in the colour orange. I carry your heart, I carry it in my heart. 

Eure Tubilda

Eure, thank you for being the wind that lifts our wings, you have always been the sensible one. I love your sense of justice and how you always try to bring sense to our group, like the time when you were the only one that told me off when I though it was a good idea to venture barefoot into the streets. You are empathetic, courageous and impartial, as well as a free spirit. 

You are on my mind every time the wind blows and the willows sway, and every time the lavender plants bloom. You are in the amethysts crystals and in the colour purple. I carry your heart, I carry it in my heart. 

I am very proud of the women you're turning to. Enjoy your last year as teens girls, it doesn't get any less awkward in your twenties anyways. But still... see you very soon!

With love, Darius.  

Sacredness, Magic & Religion.

For more than 99% of the time, mankind has been closely related to Nature, which, until the present era, was always considered sacred. It was believed that the various Gods worshiped by people were part of the natural environment, while the shamanic vision used to be the raw power of Nature. As Alick Bartholomew points out: "Many religions, such as Christianity, are a mixture of pagan beliefs and modern monotheism. We have created God in our image, naive conception that dilutes our responsibility and causes division and wars. In society there has been a vacuum that has undoubtedly contributed to the moral and values ​​decomposition we observe today."

The Creation Of Adam,
by Michelangelo Buonarroti

Religion and the search for meaning are an inert form in our human spirit and nature. After the scientific revolution of the Renaissance people like to believe that there is a clear divide between rational thought and religious or magical outpourings, but things are much more complicated because the vital need from which religions arise is a very powerful instinct. So much that even the most closed religious fanaticism arises from almost anything: motherhood, football, vaccination, vegetarianism... Even an avowed atheist movement like Communism was at bottom only a modified version of the old religious dream, of the end of time, that there is an argument and a thread of human history that lead, if not to salvation, to a perfect society.

Traditionally the search for meaning has been carried out on the tribal or mass plane. Mass worship remains the norm for religious groups. However, witches are inclined towards a more mystical and spiritual search in which the "great boss" version of the "creator" or "supreme intelligence" is transcended, allowing instead a personal connection with a higher level of Consciousness, that is, we put more emphasis on contemplation and meditation than on worshipping. Although most pagan groups retain or venerate certain deities, the Tubilda tradition does not worship any particular divine being, although at the beginning of our tradition the worship of spirits of nature and the seasons was of great importance. At present we decide to adopt a neutral position, instead of revealing ourselves to the mysteries of the beyond, we prefer to be present and to live, since, indeed, there is life before death.

We could consider ourselves naturists. We seek harmony with nature and live on the basis of balance and sustainability; To learn how to live sustainably, first we must know how Nature works and accept its laws. In fact, valuing the role of the Elements in our lives is key in witchcraft as it allows us to adopt a new spiritual vision of the universe.

The feeling of belonging has a great impact on the emotions and, therefore, on one's decisions. In my adolescence, my parents decided to divorce. The situation itself was not a major trauma, but that meant growing up in three different homes. My mom's, mt dad's and grandma's. Like everything, it carries its pros and cons, and one of these was the bewilderment when it came to finding the feeling of being, as I never put down roots to a particular home. Where do I belong? To which my grandmother replied serenely: "To the world. We all share a pulse with the whole. The cells receive their pulse from the brain, this gets its pulse from the heart, and heart from the planet Earth, which in turn receives it from the solar system and the latter from the galaxy and from the whole universe." 

Later on (in the field of quantum physics) was revealed that, indeed, at the cellular level our bodies react to the electromagnetic pulse of everything that surrounds us. I now live in another country, far from my three homes and the people I grew up with, and yet if I ever feel lonely or lost, I have nothing to do but close my eyes, concentrate on the beat of my heart, the firmness of the ground beneath me and the air around me. And then I know. And then I am at home, I rediscover my home in the midst of chaos of the world.

Despite the prevailing sense of uprooting and the illusion of separation with which many live, we must rely more on our instincts. Many of us, especially children, still have a vague memory of when we were integrally part of Nature. It's in our blood. We must explain to our children that the Universe is a single unit, that Nature is a whole. In times like these, when so many people care about their savings, their safety or their work, it is very beneficial to become aware of and adopt a broader vision of what life really is. Just to contemplate the starry sky, or of the natural elements, is a way of focusing things with more objectivity, because, compared to the unity of life, our own concerns are not so many. That is what the holism of witchcraft is all about.

Spring Wishes.

As grams says: In with the new and out with the old! Springtime is finally here which means to usher in projects, fresh starts and opportunities.

These are my wishes for the year: I want progress, more balance, and romance.

So as tradition dictates, let's take an intrapersonal look at the things I am most grateful for as well as the aspects I'd like to improve about myself. You can also do this to align your thoughts, feelings and actions with the energy of this day to aid you achieve your goals. And can use my list as an example, if you wish. 

I don't know about you,
but I am feeling 22

I love my happy vibe, especially when people tell me that I brighten up their day just by being there.

On the other hand I think I should  stop avoiding conflict all the time, and be a bit more outspoken.

I am very happy with myself because I have finally come to terms with discipline and have been able to balance my exercise, healthy eating, studies, job and personal life in a responsible manner. And though I've improved a lot, there is still a lot of room for getting more experienced and mature. 

I think it is great that I am honest, assertive and confident. Though I wish I had bitten my tongue on certain occasions. I guess I should think more before spiting words out of my mouth. 

I'm delighted that I have finally stopped falling in the dick sand (that is to forget about yourself and your priorities when any guy pays attention to you just because you don't want to be single.) I have grown a lot when it comes to love and relationships in the last year. Now I can say that I've learned to be single. And I am open to a relationship. But I am not desperate anymore, basically I will welcome love if it knocks on my door but I won't lose my mind if it doesn't. 

I've always been a pretty green person, but I do want to enhance my ecological ways even more, by consuming less processed food and bake my own bread or make my own ice cream, for example. To keep on experimenting with natural cleaning products for both my own personal care (with clay, essential oils. organic natural soaps and vegetable oils) and my housekeeping (using vinegar, bicarbonate, lemon and essential oils.) Also on my clothing, by looking carefully that they are made from natural and responsibly sourced materials.

On the professional area I am quite content with my current position, it is allowing me to save some money before I start university. I just hope I will be able to add that into my personal scheme so that I can balance my studies on top of everything else without stressing out too much.

I believe that is everything for this Spring... I hope all your wishes come true as well. I know they will (if you work for them!) ;)

Spring Equinox. Time of Balance and Renewal.

We are finally in March, which means the expectation and countdown for the equinox is also in the back of my mind. I love Spring. After the dark, cold winter. Days get longer and longer as they approach the spring equinox and on the special day. Both day and night have the same length. From that point on, light hours increase until reaching the longest day of them all in the summer solstice.

Irises by Vincent van Gogh

 The March equinox marks the moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator –the imaginary line in the sky above the Earth’s equator– from south to north. And indicates the first day of Spring. This happens on March the 19th, 20th, or 21st every year.

According to the Universal Coordinated Time, the March Equinox, this year, is on Monday, 20th of March 2017, at 10:29 UTC.

 Traditionally, the spring equinox, evokes renovation and rebirth of wisdom and fertility. It's a day to celebrate life and joy. Eggs, seeds and the rabbit are symbols of this day. The first two represent all the new life and the last one is one of the animals that by that time comes out of its burrow. We can see how some of this symbolism has been carried out on other cultures. As Christians use eggs and rabbits around the same time in a celebration they call Easter. While, among pagans the equinox is known as Ostara. Ostara is the name of an ancient Germanic divinity of spring, Goddess who embodied dawn and the awakening of germinative forces. It means something like "rising sun."

 The Tubilda celebrate life and use the awakening energy of spring by doing some purification rituals. We cleanse ourselves, our homes and our energies by, first of all waking up when the sun rises. And drinking a lot of water with lemon! You can do some exercise or turn on some music to bring up those good energies and, after breakfast, it is time for a deep cleaning of the hole house. Basically, everything in the house is thoroughly cleaned and we also get rid (recycle or donate) any item that we no longer need. The norm is; if you haven't used an specific item for more than a year... It is likely that you don't need it.

Spring is the epoch of beginnings and action. Night and day are practically as long at the spring equinox so it is also time for balance both exterior and interior. Renew and reborn; These are the goals of this day. So we take a closer look into the inside and we make a list of all the things we are grateful for as well as all the things we want to achieve this year. And while we meditate about that we purify our bodies, and then our home by burning the tip of some herbal cleansing sticks and use the smoke to cleanse the house, room by room.

This will energetically mop up any lingering residue within the space. This ancient technique is used to wipe away negativity and stale energy.

Smoke cleansing is a practice that has been around for a long time, though it shouldn’t be confused with smudging, a sacred ceremony performed in many indigenous communities that invites spirit to join them for their rituals. These two words are often used interchangeably, however, they are different. Smoke cleansing uses a variety of dried plants and woods to help cleanse a space energetically, removing bad vibes. The herbs we traditionally use in my family are sage, lavender, eucalyptus, rosemary and bay.

To finish up the tasks of the day we do some gardening. We usually plant seeds on fertile soil, or young trees in a forested area. Or even small plants in pots in the garden or window sill.

Afterwards the day follows as any other good party would, with a reunion of friends and family, a banquet, festive mood and celebration music and decoration where flowers and water are the protagonists. 

Are you also excited for springtime?  

Beauty is Perception. Critique of Social Beauty Standards.

What do you consider beautiful? Do you feel comfortable on your body? For some reason there is this current obsession on achieving unrealistic standards that puts pressure on both woman and men, but specially on the first ones. Which just creates unbalance and increases stress and obsessive behaviors. Even fear to ageing, which is a natural process that occurs to every living being. 

Mona Kardashian, or Kim Lisa?

To undergo surgery procedures or develop an eating disorder are common things in our society. 

And I ask myself... What kind of life are we living if we are so focused on our external self that this obsession obscures anything else? How can we find peace if we are prompted to pursue an impossible, and changing, trend based on our body image? Beauty is conceptualized by each culture, and era, differently. So let's learn to love ourselves the way we are. Because we will always find someone that finds us ugly. Yes, despite all the make up we might wear or our body type.  But there will also be someone that thinks we are gorgeous. Of course, I am talking about acceptance. Not about resignation. If there is a physical aspect that you can work on like getting fitter or taking care of your skin to get rid of afflictions like acne. Then that is perfect, do all you can to feel comfortable in your skin and don't feel ashamed on your way there because there is no such thing as a standardized perfection. 

We can break this cycle by ignoring it. Let's stop judging (ourselves and others) based on the external appearance. And let's create a new idea of what is beautiful.
Have you ever stopped to think of why we look like we do? Well it's all about genetics. Half of it comes from your mother, and the other half from your father. At the same time your parents are half their parents and so on. So in the end our looks are a reflection of all our ancestors. Plus the choices that compound our individuality. The things we connect with. So learn to love yourself the way you are.

Once I read that a spiritually sensitive being finds delight in natural beauty, in artistic manifestations and in the simplicity of small things.Also, that he/she is able to detect beauty, and enjoy it, without pretending to possess it. Taste deeply the expressions of beauty that appear in reality, which allows you to enjoy more intensely the fact of owning life.It is beautiful what springs from the inner psychic need. Beautiful will be what is inwardly beautiful.

Nutrition. The Thing that is Keeping You Alive.

Food. If you think about it our lives revolve around food. I don't know about you, but I am always looking forward to my breakfast, and then lunch and dinner. Also all major events of our lives turn around food as well; birthdays, weddings, even funerals.

The Roman God of the Seasons,
by Giuseppe Arcimboldo 

Nowadays is very easy to get something to eat, we just comfortably walk to the nearest shop, supermarket or, even, vending machine. But in the past people had to work very hard to get a single meal. In the case of vegetables, people had to grow them, plant them, care for them and safeguard them from a variety of plagues and weather conditions, recollect the fruits and vegetables, clean them, cook them, conserve and store to use in the season in which those specific plants don't grow. 

When it comes to animal produce, they had to hunt, fish or raise the animals. And once they'd manage to find and catch them, they'd had to flay, clean and prepare the meat before even been able to cook and eat it.  

It is great that most of us are no longer restricted to those activities in order to acquire the food we need to survive, but as we've given up the responsibility to grow our own food we have also forgotten why we eat (to nourish ourselves), we have lost the sacred aspect of food as well as the knowledge of the one thing that is keeping us alive. 

For the first time in history, without considering great catastrophes such as wars or a mass disease, the life expectancy of the next generation is shorter than the one of their parents. That is just insane! The report, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, says the prevalence and severity of obesity is so great, especially in children, that the associated diseases and complications -Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, kidney failure, cancer- are likely to strike people at younger and younger ages.

We are slowly killing ourselves, all due to our current sedentary lifestyle and massive intake of processed denatured "food" packed with high doses of added sugar, salt, saturated fats and preservatives, that are completely absent of beneficial nutrients. This situation has gone out of hand. But the good news is that recovering that sacred knowledge is very easy. I am not a nutritional expert but after reading several books on the subject including; Food Matters by Mark Bittman, The Body Book and The Longevity Book both by Cameron Diaz and Sandra Bark and The Great Book of Healthy Living by Txumari Alfaro and Raúl de la Rosa, to name a few. I think I have got some notions, and although I am no expert I will try to explain the basics of nutrition as well as I can:

In my opinion nutrition is not just about food. Because depending on your age, your environment, if you are physically active or not, your genetics, if you have a healthy intestinal flora, your levels of stress, among other factors, will determine the levels of nutrients and calories your body requires. Calories are the energy that each aliment contains, the more active we are the more calories we will need. Broadly there are three main groups of nutrients. 

• The ones that we need in larger amounts (named Macro-Nutrients) composed of Carbohydrates,  Proteins, and Fats.
• The ones that are needed in a less greater amount, but are still essential, (known as Micro-Nutrients) which are Vitamins and Minerals.
• And a third group is Water, and though not really a nutrient, but that also has a direct effect on them, we find Fibre.  

Let's get some more specific details of each of them, shall we?

CARBOHYDRATES 

These are the main source of energy to our body and our brain. Carbohydrates are turned into glucose, a type of sugar, by our bodies and used to provide energy in a cellular level.

Plants make them trough a process called photosynthesis; by mixing the energy of the Sun, water and carbon dioxide from the air. 

Though glucose is a type of sugar, refined sugars that we find on biscuits, cakes, fizzy drinks, and other processed foods, are not nutritious, that type of processed sugar is known as Sucrose.
There are many types of sugar but the following three are te more common: Glucose, Fructose and Sucrose. Glucose is practically everywhere and fuels out bodies, Fructose is the sugar found on Fruits, that is healthy because fruits are also packed with fiber that slows down the abortion of those sugars. Sucrose, on the other hand, adds empty calories to our meals and studies have shown that sucrose sugar bypasses the hormones that tell you're full which means you can overeat without realizing it. Even worst, in order to be processed trough our bodies it consumes B type vitamins, so it is not just empty, it is also stealing valuable vitamins!

Good sources of carbohydrates are whole grains, such as brown-rice, oats or quinoa. Vegetables like sweet potatoes, beetroot, kale and spinach. Fruits, for example, apples and grapefruit. And legumes like chickpeas, beans and lentils.

PROTEINS 

Proteins are strength. They are broken down into amino acids by our bodies in order to repair and build muscle. Protein are essential components of body cells and are composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen.

All the tissues of the body (bones, skin, muscles, organs...) have a group of proteins to perform their functions. Proteins contribute to cell building, growth and repair. The body needs protein to grow and regenerate.

The best sources are low-saturated fat foods like fish, legumes, eggs, poultry, seeds and nuts. If you opt for a vegetarian or vegan diet take into consideration that protein obtained from almost all plants lack one or several essential amino acids, plant sources must be combined with a complementary vegetable to form complex proteins.

FATS

Healthy fats are essential. Fats belong to the group of lipids, are composed of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen. They form a fundamental part of the cell membrane and their role is primordial in the absorption of some vitamins and minerals to keep you healthy. Also, fats help balance our body temperature.

There is this widespread belief that fats are unhealthy and undesirable, so lets re-friend fats, they don't deserve to be treated that way! There are three types of Fats: Saturated (the one we should avoid), Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

A diet rich in monounsaturated fats, present in vegetable oils (the best is olive), avocados, peanuts and walnuts, reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
There are two types of polyunsaturated fats: the omega-3 fatty acids that are found in fish oils. They regulate blood pressure, coagulation and enhance immune responses, as well as keeping a healthy functioning brain, retina and spine. And omega-6 fatty acids, which are found in sunflower, rapeseed and corn oils. Essential for growth, cell structure and maintenance of a healthy immune system. 

Saturated fats, on the other hand are present in coconut and palm oils, although they are more abundant from animal origin derived from red meat and dairy products such as sausages, whole milk, cream or ice cream.
The ingestion of these fatty acids should be limited as they increase the danger of cardiovascular disease.

VITAMINS & MINERALS

Unlike macro-nutrients, vitamins and minerals do not provide energy and are only required in small amounts, but their role is crucial in the normal functioning of the body and in the digestion process. Vitamins are organic, as opposed to minerals which are inorganic substances.

There are many types of vitamins and minerals, with a variety of functions. like keeping your skin, and hair smooth and healthy, Others help you not to be tired and to think clearly.

The main source of them are fresh fruits and vegetables. Make sure you eat a variety of them! And avoid "vitamin drinks" as they are artificially added, the body cannot absorb them and are usually packed with sucrose.
Calcium, vitamin D, phosphorous and magnesium are used to build bones.
Iron, copper, folate and vitamin B12 are the blood formers
Vitamins C, A and E, selenium and beta-carotene are antioxidants.
Thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin B6 keep you from tiredness as thy help transform carbs into glucose.
Sodium, potassium and chloride are the hydraters.    

FIBRE, 

It is actually a type of carbohydrate, but humans cannot digest it, but it is great at aiding our digestive track exercise. It balances cholesterol in our blood and aids with weight loss. Nullifies constipation and prevents diabetes as it regulate sugar levels, and even helps prevent colon cancer.

There are two types of fibre; Insoluble, known as cellulose, and soluble. The first one helps move food and waste down your digestive system. The second one is absorbed in the body and slows digestion to ensure maximum nutrient absorption.

Fiber is found in whole grains like oats, wheat or barley, vegetables like broccoli, carrots and cucumbers, seeds and nuts, fruits like oranges and grapes and legumes like beans or lentils.    

WATER

The truth is that we owe our existence to water because it explains to the cells of the body how to distribute energy to make it balanced and productive. In fact water performs so many functions that it is consider it to be life in its most intimate essence; Invigorates, nourishes, transports, lubricates, reacts, stabilises, signals, divides, structures and communicates.

The body needs around two litres of water a day to stay hydrated. Make sure to check your thirst. Being thirsty means you have been needing water for a while. Signs of dehydration include: Dry mouth and skin, a blurry mind, headaches, confusion, fast heartbeat and weakness.

Make sure you drink a lot of water right after you wake up, since the body hasn't got any for, at least, 8 hours, drinking it will revitalize your hole body, it is a great morning ritual!. Remember, the best source of water is water. Not energy drinks, lemonade, coffee, tea, alcohol nor fizzy drinks!     

A Natural Home.

I love visiting my friends houses, so many aspects of our personally are reflected in our rooms! Apparently adolescents have messy rooms as a reflection of their boiling hormones in the inside. Harmony with nature is one of my greatest ideals and, of course, if you know me you can tell it is also reflected in my home.

White Oak,
photo taken by Darius Tubilda

A natural home reflects a healthy relationship with the environment and a balanced life style. So let me share some tips to enhance the natural energies in our homes;

Always make sure that the house where you live and its furniture are made from ecological building materials; Since they have the advantages of being less polluting, healthier (as they don't release noxious substances) and are more pleasing to the senses and our spirit.

Adobe, stone, brick, bamboo wood and gypsum are healthy and environmentally friendly materials because they require little energy in their production (compared to their synthetic substitutes like aluminium and steel). But to really fulfil their ecological function, their place of origin must be as close as possible to the retailers as it avoids - or diminishes - pollution and energy consumption produced by transport.

We have to be very careful with the type of paint and the varnishes. Since the chemicals they have give off toxic vapors over the years, compounds capable of generating serious disturbances in those who inhale them.

Luckily there are natural paints made from resin that, after drying, they can be washed and they maintain a great capacity of absorption and diffusion. Or mineral paints such as the ones made of lime and silicate; these have porous (allowing a perfect breath of the wall), and are resistant to pollution, fungi and bacteria and can also be washed.

Chemical varnishes emit toxic gases for a long time and denature the materials in which they are applied. So our best option will be to use varnishes proceeding of natural oils (composed of flax-seed oil, castor oil, balsam and pine resin, ground pigments and citrus peel distillates).

Also we have to take into account the fabrics we use - in clothes, sheets, curtains, etc. - organic and natural fabrics are much better: wool, cotton, linen, silk ... since they allow perspiration and are free of toxic substances. And we will avoid clothes that are resistant to wrinkles, that repel stains or water, that do not need ironing or that do not shrink as they are synthetic.

Building insulation is also important. Some healthy and ecological options- as long as they are local products - are:

Cotton, cellulose, cork, fiber of hemp or coconut, wool, linen, wood or straw.

In plumbing it is very important to avoid plastic materials derived from chlorine, such as PVC: they are harmful to our health and to the environment, and very dangerous in case of fire.

As well as the materials it's important not to bring chemical toxins whit our cleaning products. A very easy to make (and economic) homemade recipe for natural cleaning consists in mixing soda bicarbonate,  distilled white vinegar and water. It is great as a multipurpose cleaning solution and you can always add a few drops of essential oils such as pine or teatree to add aroma and extra disinfecting properties. Without jeopardizing your health nor the people you love.

Lessons Learned About Love, Sex and Relationships.

Love, oh love... As the song goes: All you Need is Love! Everybody wants to be loved, to find that someone special. And yet we know very little about love and everything that comes with it: sex, relationships and romance. How come something so vital, something as basic as love isn't taught in schools?

I believe, if we had more information, everybody would enjoy better, healthier, relationships. Redundant as it might sound, I love love and anything that symbolises it, rose quartz is my signature crystal and I always liked the Greek Goddess of love Aphrodite, named Venus for the Romans. So it's a subject I enjoy getting my hands on.

The Birth of Venus, by Sandro Botticelli

First of all, before looking for someone to live with and start a relationship, I consider essential to know yourself first. And once we are well with ourselves we will have more chances to find someone to build something together. In my opinion, there is a mass false belief that exposes that we are halves who need another being to be complete and happy, that we must find our other-half in order to feel fulfilled. I honestly think such a theory is absurd. It creates feelings of dependence in your partner which can easily lead to anxiety and stress. Each of us are whole and complete people, and are able to be perfectly happy without a partner. One of my youngest sisters (she will turn 17 on September) is quite worried about never finding a partner... Actually, looking back on my teens I felt the same way. Perhaps influenced by the impact the media has over us, or maybe because in the olden times the life expectancy was much shorter and thus people had to have children at a younger age (Romeo and Juliet were 15 and 13 respectively). So let me share some of my experiences concerning love and the things I've learned over these years;

Have you ever fallen in love? I have. The first time; I was 14. I could lose myself in his eyes, and listen to him all day long. He was the first person I though of in the morning and the last one before going to sleep... He was a straight friend from high school, so nothing really happened between us...

But I learned that it is very important to be true to yourself and to let go, despite how painful and difficult it might be, when facing unrequited love. 

Not long from that I met the first guy who ever asked me out, I wasn't interested though. But instead of being clear I played around with him just to get attention, which I regret doing now. I have learned that a clear no. Is much better than a diffuse response or ghosting someone. 

I was 15 when I engaged in my first formal relationship and had my first kiss. It was awful by the way; Really slimy and oppressive. For a good kiss, I think it is important to make sure the other person knows what your intentions are, looking at someones mouth and getting close to their face is a good way to do that. Approach him/her a 90% and let the other person do the 10% left. When it comes to the actual kiss, just go with the flow. Experiment, and be honest, get to know yourself and your partner to find out what you both enjoy the most. 

He was the best-friend of the previous guy (uncomfortable I know) whom talked trash about me, and eventually he cheated on me...

I felt hurt, and lonely so I started going out with the first guy who paid any attention to me. I didn't even liked him on the first place, he did some really weird stuff with a Pikachu plush... and he dumped me once he found out I am a witch. This short, but intense, relationship taught me two major lessons. The first one: never neglect your standards and don't start a relationship out of spite. And second: It is much better to be alone than in bad company. 

Then, at age 16, I met a Spanish journalist, if I remember properly I believe he was 22 at the time. We dated for a year but it was mostly carnal. He was nice to me, but whenever I proposed to do something a bit more romantic he would excuse himself saying he was busy. In our anniversary I got him a poem book I knew he'd like and he got me some lubricant so that we could have even more sex. That was the limit for me and I confronted him about it. He confessed he was only interested in engaging in sexual intercourse. So I broke up with him, I realised how important communication is in a relationship... if only we would have talked about it earlier!

A month before my 18th birthday I met my, to this date, longest partner, he was 25 and despite his obscure and troubled past he had managed to learn five different languages, had a stable job and didn't fell into addictions or depression. He has a very strong and charismatic personality that made me admire him and at the same time he is so vulnerable, I loved taking care of him. And just a week later, I moved in with him. The place wasn't anything extraordinary but it felt like a palace to me. We burned steps way too quickly but even though our relationship lasted around 4 years we were not compatible on some key aspects that would injured the relationship on the long run. We were practically married, I truly believed we would always be together. But no matter what we tried the relationship didn't work. We were just not right for each other. I have learned that we cannot compromise our future emotions and, that in order to to make a healthy, long term, relationship work love isn't enough. It is important to know the character of the other person to know if we are compatible. And if the characters are compatible, it is necessary to have as referents some values in common, so that the coexistence is simpler in the long run, discussing things that are part of our way of thinking will only create remorse and build negative feelings. Sex compatibility is also important, good sex helps build and maintain couples. Having a good sexual relationship, usually leads to consider a more continuous relationship. And most importantly, to have a common project. Sharing experiences is essential for a couple. I believe living in harmony is not only sailing in the same boat, but paddling in the same direction.

The Truth About Witchcraft, Yes I am a Witch.

What would you think if I say that I am a witch? probably that I am evil and worship the devil, that I am crazy and live in a delusional fantasy or that I am trying to fool you. Well guess what, none of the above are true.

Witchcraft and paganism have been misinterpreted both by the state and by the church for so long that no one understands what we do and what we stand for anymore, we have even been reduced to mere fantasies when, in fact, of all the fantastic creatures that populate our legends witches are the only ones that exist and have vindicated themselves as such.

Little Altar,
photo taken by Darius Tubilda.

Our culture (I see it more as a culture or way of life than a religion) has been misunderstood, blamed and feared for centuries. And loads of legends have been made around it, feeding the prejudice and superstitions. When it is, in fact, a culture based around life and the natural balance that comes from it. I could try to explain all the misconceptions and false beliefs about witches, and challenge the ideas that social media has built, Nevertheless I believe it will be even better to explain the bases of our culture and what it does mean to be a witch:

It means freedom, and being afraid of nothing, not even death. 

It is to see, not to look. To listen, and not to hear. To be present and feel beyond our limitations.

Witchcraft is union. Knowing everything is one, and that we are as old as the universe. 

To be a witch means discipline and responsibility, curiosity and contemplation. 

Witchcraft is education, from a young age, about how the Elements of Nature and our bodies work. Allowing us to make better and informative choices about our health and empowering knowledge at a cellular level.

It is trust, to be faithful to your own spirit. It is a home, a lineage; to learn, to practice, to write, to teach, to protect, to nourish, to love…

It means change. Change towards peace, balance and self-steam.

Being a witch is to question everything, to follow your instinct. Transcend time, space, prejudices and identity.

It is… Magic. 

Traditionally the search for meaning has been carried out on the tribal or mass plane. Mass worship remains the norm for religious groups. However, we are inclined towards a more mystical and spiritual quest in which the "great boss" version of the "creator" or "supreme intelligence" is surpassed, allowing instead a personal connection with a higher level of Consciousness, in other words, we put more emphasis on contemplation and meditation than on worshipping. In resume, witchcraft is build through common sense, the nature of things and under a maternal and avid gaze of knowledge. The philosophy of witches is, basically, a different perspective of our world focused, as I said, in Life.

So, I have decided to honour my lineage and go ahead with the truth; It is who we are, we are not criminals so there is no need to hide, to do so would be a way to underestimate ourselves as well as a way of resignation toward the myths and wanderings that surround our figure. The truth is that there are many variants of living and interpreting the world and, in the case of witchcraft, this is no exception, in fact, each Circle or pagan group, is free to interpret life in their own way and the introduction of new knowledge is one of our usual practices. If I had to describe witchcraft using a single word it would be "movement", because it is not a static culture, witchcraft is always evolving. It comes from one of the firstborn cults of mankind: Shamanism. Archaeological evidence, as found by the Norwegian archaeologist Sheila Coulson, attest to this.

Teenager Confessions on my Early Twenties.

During adolescence we burst with our emotions towards the outside, an exciting world full of possibilities, but that makes us feel vulnerable; Because we no longer have home's "protective atmosphere", as a teenager we are stuck in between, we are too old for kids stuff yet too young for adult matters. You feel insecure, more focused on what other's think of you than who you really are, you feel rebellious and hungry for new experiences.  

Back on my late teens I did something crazy. Just a month before becoming 18 I moved in with my boyfriend,  boyfriend I had meet just a week prior to that and that was 8 years older than me. 

I knew the truth at 17...

I didn't tell anyone, not my parents, nor my siblings or friends, not even my (back then) boyfriend and owner of the apartment I was moving into. I slowly started to take all of my belongings into his place, and one fine day I appeared with a huge suitcase, a simile and a "honey now we can live together!". 

Everyone freaked out. I don't even remember how everything exactly went,  but surely most of them were shocked. I am so not setting a good example here... I wouldn't do it again and I certainly don't recommend you to copy my behaviour. The point I'm trying to make is that during adolescence the first emotional floods appear, but the tools to confront them are still very weak and the life experience is scarce, so we are prompt to do something crazy without considering the possible outcomes and consequences of our actions.

In the beginning of our independence we are presented with an abyss of difficulties, of efforts and challenges that we will have to overcome, but it is not at all a bad thing.In fact I believe it will make you grow and mature. At least it has helped me. I sincerely believe that you begin to mature when you really take responsibility for yourself and your environment. When you realise that, in reality, it turns out you are not as mature as you thought; But that encourages you to grow and develop even further.

Then you become aware of yourself, immersed in your virtues and your defects, in short; In who you are; Without pretending or hiding and, personally, it is when I have felt more confident. Because you discover a new perception of reality, you know who you are and who you can become and then you know that nothing can stop you. You just need to be you, not what society, your family or even yourself think you should be. Just the real you.

According to neuroscientists, adolescents have extraordinary potential: At age 14, cognitive skills, and especially the ability to learn quickly, are very high. Experts say that teens seem to be more concerned about how others perceive them that how they actually feel about themselves.

Perhaps it is because since birth we are convinced that we are very different from those around us, in childhood we are taught to distrust our feelings because they say they are supposedly irrational, therefore it begins the repression of feelings and we start to interact with others through a "masc" made of a mixture of modesty, because we do not show our true feelings in case they disturb others, and distrust, believing that the less we show of ourselves the less vulnerable we will be.

Concealing our true selves and cutting off our uniqueness.

Something we must learn is to stop being afraid of not knowing and that our conscious decisions, our way of feeling life and our emotions are appropriate. If that's the way you are, it's fine, it's perfect.

In the early age of 14-15, is when adolescents begin to need to distance themselves from their parents and they do so by discussing why they want to do things their way, to be free. According to psychologists this behaviour is necessary to establish a personal identity. Also is where it appears the "disciplined devotion" that arises towards their emerging personal identity and that will shape their future life.

When we are children adults do not seem to respect us too much; We are explicitly told that we must be conformed according to their indications, since we are imperfect and ignorant.

So, convinced that their feelings and their minds are still weak, children give their authority to the adults around them.

And, as they grow, they are constantly seeking the approval of others, apologising for the way we look, hiding our emotions and competitiveness and distrust are the norm. And those brave enough who do not do that and "reveal themselves" as they are end up feeling like fragments loose and shipwrecked in the world...

Parenthood it's very important to me. And when the time comes, I want to treat my children with love and respect so that they are confident and they love themselves and others with honesty. So that they are emotionally intelligent and able to develop and find their passions. And, of course, that they continue to do so as they grow, become teens and, eventually, adults. So let's do it, let's destroy this model by starting with ourselves. By starting to treat others as equals and communicating emotionally and then educate our offspring so that they do not have these problems.