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.

My Recipes: Spinach Paradise.

Do you love Spinach? I do! They are great! Their season goes from March to June. Though we can find them available in our stores all year round. And the following is one  of my favourite recipes, plus it's excellent for non-green eaters, as even them love this recipe. Though sceptical at first...   

Bon appetite!

Spinach are well known for their nutritional qualities and have always been regarded as a plant with remarkable abilities to restore energy, increase vitality and improve the quality of blood. 

There are a lot of good reasons why this lovely veg has this great proprieties, primarily the fact that it is rich in iron, which plays a central role in the function of red blood cells which help in transporting oxygen around the body, in energy production and DNA synthesis. Spinach is also an excellent source of vitamins. Specially vitamin A, C, B2 and K. Folic acid, as well as being a good source of magnesium. 

I think it is worth mentioning that vitamin K is quite rare, it is vital for maintaining bone health and it is difficult to find vegetables richer in vitamin K than spinach. Others include broccoli and kale.

INGREDIENTS

A teaspoon or two of Rapeseed Oil. 

An Onion and a half.

A couple Garlic Cloves.

200 grams of Organic Spinach.

A handful of Raisins.

Some Walnuts.

And a few seeds: (I usually use Hemp, Sunflower, Sesame and Flax seeds).

Half a Lemon.

A drizzle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil. 

So how do you get this baby ready?

Well simply chop the onion and the garlic while the rapeseed oil is getting heated up on a saucepan. I prefer to cut them in a similar size to the spinach leaves, but it is really up to your taste. 

Once the oil is hot-ish turn the fire down and stir fry the garlic and onion till they are golden. Next step is to add half of the spinach. Make sure you wash them thoughtfully before cooking them. You don't want them to get very soft, just cook the long enough for them to change their texture. 

While the spinach are cooking sprinkle all over them a generous amount of raisins and part of the seeds and nuts. Make sure you've crushed the seeds in a mortar or you won't get their nutritional proprieties and you'll just poop them out due to their natural protective cover.

When the leaves have gotten that softer feel to them, turn off the fire completely and add the raw half of the spinach and mix with the content of the pan.

And finish it off adding the rest of the smashed seeds, the juice from half a lemon and a drizzle of Olive Oil.

Enjoy!

Reading the Signs of Nature: Divination.

Crows by Marion Rose 

  Have you heard the phrase: Everything happens for a reason? I am not sure till what point this is true, intuition and premonition are tricky sensations as we are pushed to mistrust them by the current worldview. Nonetheless I have come to learn to trust my intuition over the years. Interpreting the signs of nature and the universe, as witches and shamans have done for generations,  has turned out to be both useful and easier than expected.
  The divination arts have always caused a great controversy, specially since charlatans and fortune tellers go around deceiving people's trust. As witches we believe that the only thing that exists is the present. So what are we predicting then? The answer is something a bit bigger than what the future holds, it's about the destiny we have created with our actions, thoughts and feelings. Basically it's an energy that has already been created but that has not yet manifested in the present. 

   Everyday life is full of examples. Have you ever found yourself thinking about an old friend that you haven't seen in a long time and then, all of a sudden, you meet them or receive a phone call?
 As far as I know the "science" behind  all divination processes lies on what Swiss physiologist Carl Jung denominates as synchronisation, term that uses in his work over the I Ching (a traditional Chinese method of divination), conducted in 1949.

  The synchronisation process becomes aware of events in time and space, revealing a sense beyond mere chance. That is, a specific inter-response between specific events. (As tossing a coin in the air to predict the future like on the I Ching to create a pattern). Synchronisation is found in the heart of all divination techniques, Whenever you lay out a tarot deck, or interpret the future using runes, wax or viscera, a pattern is created which reflects an internal condition that is already forming, or is about to.
To read the signs of nature, and divination through experiences with animals works exactly the same way, with the advantage that is more organic and intuitive than other methods. At the time of your encounter, the pattern is appreciated through the habits and characteristics of the animal, the folklore and mythology as well as the circumstances that surround your experience; the health of the animal, your feelings about the experience as well as any personal idea or association that you might have about the animal.

Intuition plays a fundamental role in divination, especially that related to animals. Socially there are certain attributes traditionally associated with a certain animal such as loyalty in the dog, power in the lion or transmutation and change in the butterfly. But we should by no means limit ourselves to these concepts. We can use them as guides, as bases to develop meaning but, above all, let your intuition guide you.

Most of the time we overlook this signs, even once we've learned how to interpret them. We don't often pay attention to them or decide to ignore them... I went on a date last summer with a lovely guy, I was quite excited and on the middle of the day I found a dead dove on the street, I didn't want to believe it and completely ignored this sign, and guess what, our relationship didn't last more than twenty-something days... The Dove, universal sign of peace and love appears in the art and folklore of numerous spiritual traditions, religions and cultures. I am not suggesting that you put an abrupt end to any relationship just because you found a dead dove. Remember to take into account the context and holism of the situation.

Here are some pointers to help you understand the meaning of your encounter:
1. Consider your initial reaction (you attract animals according to your deepest beliefs about the animal, as well as your way of seeing and understanding the world and yourself
2. When did it happened? Day or night, the hour o the day, the season you are in...
3. If the encounter was in the habitat of animal (less rare) or in a different one (more significant).
4. How did you feel? Usually the emotions are the direct link of the meaning of your encounter.
5. The person or people with whom you were at the moment of the encounter.
6. What activity where you doing?
7. Symbolism and possible meaning of the animal:
TRANSFORMATION - Butterfly, Frog and Snake.
ROMANCE, SEXUALITY and LOVE - Horse, Swan and Rabbit.
MESSAGES - Owls, Dragonfly and birds in general.
LOYALTY and FAMILY LOOSES - Dog, Elephant.
CREATIVITY AND EXPRESSION - Spider and sparrow.
JOY, PEACE, FORTUNE and PROSPERITY - Dove, Hummingbird and Lady Bug.
INTUITION, MAGIC and SHAMANISM - Raven, Wolf and Fox.
SPIRITUALITY AND HEALING - Dolphin, Bee and Deer.
POWER - Bear, Lion.
INDEPENDENCE AND LONELINESS - Cat and Iguana.

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!) ;)

The Book of Shadows.

The Books of Shadows are famous for rising numerous legends.

It is already a fact that they are a sacred object for witches as they represent something more than a family book, something more than wisdom: They symbolize a living channel where each written knowledge transcends the boundaries of time and space -almost like a way of speaking directly with those who do not yet exist as part of our essence will be impregnated forevermore in our Book of Shadows-.

Perhaps this is the concept that aroused the allusion to protective spirits...

The Tubilda's Book of Shadows,
photo taken by Paula Montañes

Traditionally the witches' knowledge were transmitted orally, and passed down from generation to generation. So there was no need to record the information in a book, until the time of the persecution that is. It is believed that it was then that the first Books of Shadows were written, so called because they were born protected in the darkness, sheltered in the shadows, and because the eyes of the "uninitiated" were not to see it, nor even to know about it. 

Now, by custom, it is still called Book of Shadows although some witches prefer to call it Grimoire. Normally each lineage has a single Book of Shadows written by its members, although some also have an Initiate Book (with the basic knowledge). As for writing it there is no fixed or correct way to do it, since each lineage has its own customs.

We understand that what is a reality today it might not be true tomorrow, so we always introduce, check and update new knowledge. 

A belief only lives as long as someone believes in it, a lifestyle only exists as long as someone practices it. That is why it is so important to us to continue with the tradition, and transmit it to the next generation. Always in a tone of guidance of course, that is to explain everything from a personal point of view and sharing ideas without ever imposing them. That is why the witches of each lineage have the responsibility of writing their Book of Shadows and contribute with their own energy and creativity to develop and guide the next generation.

If you would like to write your own Book of Shadows I'll share some tips that have worked for me. You don't necessarily have to be a witch to write one. I guess we can see the Book of Shadows as a generational history book that puts emphasis on passing down knowledge, advice... It can contain anything that transmits some sort of wisdom, from an ancient tradition to a homemade recipe. It all starts with an idea. 

These books have the advantage of being open when it comes to content, structure and design.

Before beginning to write the book I recommend to have a previous idea: if it is going to be organized in chapters; If it will be ordered by categories, by degree of difficulty ... As well as content; Will it be a didactic book; Of research or, perhaps, an encyclopedic one? About what, and how many, things will you write?

 I advise the following to write your book as it is working for me!

· Make a mini-scheme where you write down the main idea that you want to transcribe. In the process of writing is much easier than it seems to get your creativity overflowing and we end up relegating the idea that we want to reflect on the background and writing about unrelated things. So I think it is better to try to keep it simple.

· It is very useful to take into account the purpose for which you write and the people who are going to read it, to suit the level of knowledge and the age of the readers. This way the communication will flow more easily.

· Finally just review the text, make sure it has the structure you want and if there is a conclusion. Check your spelling and make sure you take care of the presentation. It is completely normal to rewrite and retouch many of the things you write, in my opinion, it is best to let the writing rest a night or two before checking it. Even better if you can get someone else to read the text and see what they understand and whether they find it interesting or not.

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.