To fit it all in and keep up with an inspired creativity that yearns for expression through creating beauty and art in many forms there has been, over the years, less sleep and a subtle, slow creeping tiredness. Many late nights of beautiful creation has meant days of my fair share of coffee, teas and all manner of delicious chocolates to keep me powering. It has meant pushing myself to turn up when my being needed to just be still and stretching myself to complete creative projects. It has been with all good intent to celebrate and express life but is not always the most nourishing path for deep wellbeing.  It is satisfying to get things done and offer gifts to the world but it can be depleting to live on less sleep and more caffeine or sugar or both, draining adrenals and compromising health.

As the nights close in early with cold air and starry skies, l have found myself surrendering to the quiet of winter and wanting to feel the magic of sleep rather than further action and creation.

In sleep, deep cellular healing can occur, our beings have a chance to integrate, dream and rest. This is vital to health and happiness. I often feel I only need about five hours sleep, with a bit of yoga, time in nature and daily rituals, my soul is nourished. But in certain times, or perhaps even a long time, the Beauty of Sleep calls.

Therefore, the evening rituals start earlier so I can wind down into Peace. It feels good to eat dinner early and bring the home into a clear, restful space. There is less time on the wooden floor and more time in bed stretching limbs and enjoying the simplicity of breath and prayer. I especially love anointing rituals before bed, to unwind and benefit from the beauty of Aromatherapy.  When the day is done and mother moon shines in all her glory, the night calls me to go within. Gentle evening rituals flow quietly into restful, healing sleep.

Night Ritual

Self Love Bathing Ritual

Complete all your tasks of the day and begin to run the bath.

Light candles, play soothing music, be creative with your space no matter how humble,  make a sanctuary of your bathroom.

Use your high quality BE Body & Soul oil blend. I recommend Be Peace with lavender and sandalwood if you’re desiring deep relaxation or be nourished by the power and delicious scent of rose and vanilla with your Be Love oil.

Add your oil to the bath, the water will soften and smell inviting.

As you sink under the water take some deep breaths

Give thanks for the day you just experienced, all the little moments that made you smile, even the challenges. Give thanks, for another opportunity to experience life and love on earth.

Breathe and tune in to your body and heart.

Rub your feet taking time feel into tense areas and gently rubbing them away in the lovely oiled water.

Feel into your body, allow yourself to unwind and drift focusing on nothing in particular but your breath, scent and the warmth of water.

After some time, bring your hands to your heart centre and feel into the beauty of your being. Send yourself healing prayers and love energy. As the heart opens send love out to others that come to mind, then as you complete your bath bring the attention back to yourself making a commitment to listen to the love within.

Dry off with reverence for yourself, body & soul.

By now you will most likely be ready for a restful sleep, blissing out on the beauty of your own being.

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Sienna Moon –  Aromatherapist, Yogini, Mother, Artist, Healer, Beauty Path consultant.  “Offering the gifts of the Goddess”  

Flowers, the weather worn woman who tends them, birds lighting the sky in colour. The endless green of rolling hills in the rain, a tender caress, a genuine smile.

Beauty is everywhere and the expression of true beauty in our world is a reflection of the Divine Goddess/God or Eternal light.

We are drawn to beauty as a way to touch this divinity, connect with it and therefore offer more of it.

I love to revel in the world of beauty, connected to nature, appreciating butterflies, swimming in precious waters, eating foods from the garden, creating alters with candles, crystals, flowers and prayers, to sing and share friendship, joy and love.

Everything we do can contribute to this beauty. In being grateful to it, we help it shine. In creating even more of it we can offer our gifts to each other. If all our actions are done in a manner of love, they are beautiful, no matter what they are.

I choose to walk the beauty path, honouring nature in her endless glory, expressing her love through celebrating her gifts.  To mix potions from flowers, plants and trees.  To paint the worlds in-between that not all see.  To move my body to beautiful music.  To play with ancient cards that tell stories to my soul.  To share words of kindness and walk gently on the earth.  This is my way to walk the beauty path and these are the gifts I have to share.

Inner beauty resides within all of us. By focusing our attention on the divine wonder of nature we amplify this light within and everything appears and feels more beautiful. There is so much to be grateful for and plenty of love to share. With this understanding we can walk the beauty path where every step is sacred and every breath a prayer.

Sienna Moon –  Aromatherapist, Yogini, Mother, Artist, Healer, Beauty Path consultant.  “Offering the gifts of the Goddess”       

Love, conjures images of beloveds entwined, roses, a sweet scented bundle tucked tenderly inside a mother’s arms.

Love, many have a great tale to tell about its presence. Filled with passion, hopes, tears and sunset kisses.

To describe it is impossible, it’s meaning differs from person to person. But what joy in finding words to try and convey such profound beauty.  In speaking of it we strengthen it’s power in the world.

So SHARE your words of LOVE, so that LOVE may expand and eternally grow!

A perfect gift for this Valentine!  A bottle of be love Body & Soul oil for nourishment, bliss, connection and a profound sense of love. Containing macadamia oil, essential oils of rose and rosewood, with a hint of vanilla.

***Shop online***.

Article by Sienna Moon

Do you want to revive your connection with your beloved?

Do you wish to maintain and deepen in the intimacy you can share together?

Do you desire a magical evening of love and tenderness that refreshes your connection?

Then listen closely as this offering is simple and requires only a willingness to learn and the time and space to create beauty.

So put the children to bed, turn off the T.V and give yourself and your love a treat that can become a monthly or better yet, weekly ritual.

Planning

Make sure you & your beloved will not be distracted upon this evening.

Complete all loose ends for the day or let them go until tomorrow.

Turn the phones off.

Make dinner simple and early so you have time to spare.

Cleanse your room, tidy up, create a sacred space.

Have your bottle of Be Sensual, candles, music and any other touches to set the mood.

Inform your partner that you will be having a ‘special night’.

Ritual

It is good for both of you to take some time to prepare before you come together, so bathe or shower, anoint yourself with oils (use Be Man for him, Be Woman for her) and do what you need to to let the day go and be with your love. You may want to stretch a little, listen to soothing music or wear some special adornments, clothes or underwear.

As you let go the day and begin creating your sensual, sacred space, focus your thoughts upon all it is that you love about your partner and what you share together. Recall tender moments and things you admire about your love, breathe deeply. Tune into your togetherness as you make your room beautiful.

Light candles, play music if it feels right, place flowers by the Be Sensual oil.

When the moment is right, come together.

Sit or stand facing each other and bring awareness to your breath; close your eyes at first if it helps. Put your hands on your belly and fill the belly up with your breath. Breathing into the belly is grounding and proven to enhance sexual fulfilment. Take your Be Sensual oil and drip a small amount into each others hands, inhale deeply from each others hands then lightly brush onto each others skin, wherever it feels easy to apply.

Now for the fun!  You are going to take it in turns of massaging each other until you uncover creative and interesting ways to enjoy oiling each other at the same time.

Let the man lay down first and ask where he needs some attention, he may have a sore neck or shoulders, start where he suggests or follow your intuition. Apply oil to your hands then rub in long, full strokes over his body. Don’t be shy. Ask for feedback on what feels nice and enjoy the act of healing and soothing him.

After about 10/15 minutes, swap. Now the woman lies down and feels into her body and lets her man know where her tension is,… legs,… hands, whatever. It is best to begin with not obviously sexual areas at first. Just cultivate a feeling of giving and receiving, healing and sharing.

Use the whole palm of the hand with long, slow, strokes for this first contact and check how it feels. You can discover how to massage each other through communicating and experiment.

Swap again after about 10/15 minutes. Apply more oil and go over the part of the body you covered then extend to another area. Don’t be concerned about technique, just cover the skin with the Be Sensual oil. Explore your beloveds’ body and know that your touch is a beautiful thing for your partner to experience in this way.

Again change roles after 10/15 minutes.

As you become more used to massaging each other intuitively, try some different hand movements (you can squeeze, use fingers, even light caresses feel wonderful). You are not training as a massuse but lovingly massaging your partner.

As you melt into the moment, skin, oil, hands, bring your bodies together.

See how you can caress each other, one arm wrapped around your beloveds’ back, stroking a neck while feet find each other and rub together. Move around, use your body, discover how great it feels for a woman to sit on her mans back and massage him with her body weight, don’t be afraid to use your whole body!  The only limit is your imagination.

Let the mood take you but try to massage for an extended period (an hour or so) before you move to love making, and when you do, take time to extend this as well. Savour each moment, and take your time, resisting the temptation to follow familiar patterns. Get lost in the beauty of the Sacred space you have created together.

Taking time out for a Be Sensual massage ritual will revive your intimate connection, energise your being, keep your heart open, your mind clear and remind you that you are here to celebrate LOVE!

**A little tip!**

We have found the blend of Be Man & Be Love together to be a very sensuous and a love inspiring combination for the bedroom. For when you want a change from Be Sensual, experiment with which BE oils work for you.

All Be oils are excellent in bed with their handy no spill pump lid, no need to worry about taking lids on and off, and they do not stain sheets and clothes.

Note, when pouring oil, it is best to pour into your palms and rub hands together to warm the oil rather than pouring oil directly on your partners body.

It is good for both of you to read this information. Print it out so you can refer to it a few times easily and leave in a special place so you remember to do it again soon!

Sienna Moon –  Aromatherapist, Yogini, Mother, Artist, Healer, Beauty Path consultant.  “Offering the gifts of the Goddess”       

Love Ritual to Connect with the Heart

Create your Sacred Space

Cleanse the room, light incense, bring in flowers or foliage from nature, play soothing music or sing a loving song. Visualise your room as a temple of worship, where prayers are realised and angels play.

Create a beautiful alter of love, place a bottle of be love at the centre, light a candle, place symbols of love reflecting your thoughts of love.

With both feet evenly on the ground begin to breathe deeply, imagining the light of the earth entering your feet and traveling up through your body, circle your hips, let the life force in, breathe . . .

Feel into your body, stretch and open it where it feels tired or dull, connect with the earth beneath your feet, breathe fresh life force through your nose, release old energies as you breathe out . . .

Sit comfortably at your alter and take in the beauty you have before you. Dispense the be love oil into your hands and inhale deeply. You are breathing in the fragrance of love, let it fill your senses. Anoint yourself with the divine oil, lightly touch it to your brow, heart centre (chest), belly, feet, rub it in wherever it feels good. Inhale love, breath it into your very being.

Allow the divine scents to envelop you, continue to breathe deeply, bring your hands to your heart centre.

Cultivate feelings of love, connection and bliss. Ask for your heart to open to love, with compassion for all beings, including yourself.

Send out prayers of love to anyone that comes to mind, send out prayers of love for the peace of your own heart.

Relax into the energy of love, that is ever present and always available. Give thanks.

When you are ready resume the rest of your day/evening knowing you are a beacon of light and love.

For Lovers

For more connection during lovemaking, do this Love Ritual in the bedroom before sex. Send your prayers of love out to each other and then face each other and continue breathing into your heart and the divine essence of love.

Look into each others eyes, see your Beloved as the divine manifestation of love before you. Take it in turns to express gratitude for what you appreciate in the other, be open to receive, be open to give.

Stand or lie in a full bodied embrace, let your breath be full and deep in the belly, feel the love you have cultivated and expanded growing even more, undress slowly and anoint your beloveds’ skin, take your time, let love move you …

Sienna Moon –  Aromatherapist, Yogini, Mother, Artist, Healer, Beauty Path consultant.       “Offering the gifts of the Goddess”       

“If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, “thank you,” that would suffice.” – Meister Eckhart

18 days ago I decided to post an expression of gratitude daily on our Facebook Page, for 28 days.  I simply felt moved to share what I was thankful for and make a commitment to focusing upon that everyday. I have found that in focusing on what I am grateful for I feel a lightness of being and a deeper connection to Spirit.

Throughout a day many situations can arise to potentially ruffle our feathers. Stressors at work, waiting in traffic, an unexpected bill, a lost item, the computer playing tricks again … the list goes on. I have found all these potentially frustrating moments as an opportunity to be grateful, to choose Love. When I shift my attention to what I am grateful for, I feel lighter, more peaceful and when I am in this state I see this reflected around me. Sure the issues still arise, but in focusing on love and gratitude, ‘issues’ just become part of an experience where love can still be found.

What feelings and thoughts we put out into the world are what we experience in return. We cannot control our environment, but we can create and respond to all in a manner of love & gratitude. This then expands more of this feeling into our lives. Even in the face of adversity we can, in the moment, choose Love.

I also see gratitude as a Gift. To share gratitude is to spread joy. In the same way that a smile is infectious, I smile at you, you smile back and we both feel touched. Sharing gratitude spreads goodwill. To say ‘Thank you’, to be genuinely grateful and express this to those around you in turn puts their attention to the beauty of life.

So try it, take a moment each day to feel grateful and express this gratitude. Watch how your heart opens and life flows with more grace and ease.

By Sienna Moon

www.byronessence.com.au.

What is the essence of Beauty?

I spent a large part of my life travelling this amazing planet of ours exploring different cultures, landscapes, and sacred places. My motivation was simple. I wanted to experience the pure joy and ecstasy of visiting unknown places, the sense of adventure of what I might discover and the feeling of being free from the confines of my western suburban upbringing and conditioning.

A friend of mine once commented that Beauty was my spiritual path and that many Native American tribes like the Hopi, Sioux and Cherokee live by the credence to “walk in balance and beauty”.  At the time, I didn’t quite fully understand what he meant. However, as time went on I slowly began to see the wisdom of this mantra.

I explored many spiritual paths along the way, from my own Judeo-Christian origins, Yoga, Buddhism, Taoism, Tantra and Native American traditions. All in an effort to discover “Who Am I?” and “Why Am I Here?” All traditions were pointers or signposts to the one Truth or God, however nothing has been a more powerful reminder of my connection with Great Spirit then the Beauty of Nature. Just gazing at a sunset, I am left speechless, mind chatter slows down and the profound beauty of existence is crystal clear.

What I also discovered was, when you can truly appreciate this beautiful web of Creation that all of us are part of as one big family and trust in its inherent goodness, your true Being will shine forth.  For you are radiating the essence of Beauty itself which for me is total presence, in all things, beyond words, beyond mind. A flower, a bird chirping, a single blade of grass are all pointers to the great mystery of existence, of BEing … fully alive in this eternal moment called NOW … and that is BEautiful!!!

I challenge you to try the following. Spend the day observing and looking for what is beautiful. Really focus on this intention. I believe you’ll start to see and feel things which lift your spirit and help you to feel closer to God, Goddess, or All That Is. I suspect you’ll also discover that beauty has been present in your life more than you’ve appreciated. You won’t even have to go far to find it.

By Roberto Vittorio

www.byronessence.com.au

feel the silence

breathe all beauty in

breathe out

relax

soften into the stillness

surrender

breathe in

breathe out

relaxation

balance

peace

be peace…

Finding the Sacred in Everyday Life

Finding the Sacred in Everyday Life

“Ritual is the passage way of the soul into the Infinite.” — Algernon Blackwood

The beauty of ritual is that it can help us to connect to nature and to our higher self.  The origin of the word ritual is from the Indo-European language which means, ‘to fit together’; an act of joining the spiritual world with the physical or mundane world. Since ancient times most cultures of this Earth have understood the power of ritual and have regarded it as a sacred path to the Divine and an essential part of everyday life.

Our culture celebrates ritual through Birthdays, Weddings, Christmas, Anniversaries and other special occasions.  We also have many rituals we do in our everyday life, like bathing, brushing our teeth, eating and so on, that have just become habit. After all, we humans are funny creatures of habit. You might not even notice the invisible actions that shape your daily life. But what makes something a ritual as opposed to just a habit?

The difference is intention. By putting our intentions into action, we create a space in which we are fully present in the moment, a state of Mindfulness or Awareness. Being mindful of these daily events will bring ritual back to you, simply with an expanded awareness each time you participate in the activity. Intention makes a ritual a sacred act as opposed to just a habit.

For example, giving ‘thanks’ each time before a meal is a wonderful way for us to participate in ritual together. Rituals help us to stay grounded, connected to Mother Earth and ‘All That Is’.  Mindful activity or ritual will bring us into a more centered place in alignment with our true essence … being open to life, beauty and grace.

By remembering ritual in your daily life you allow for the expression and celebration of your Divine Self. After all, we are spirit beings having a human experience and every act of ritual will be a reminder of where you’ve come from. It’ll feel like coming home and a simple way of making everyday acts sacred.

Enjoy ritual, honour the elements, discover the ancient ways and adapt them to your life creatively to suit you NOW. At Byron Essence, we understand the power of using Aromatherapy along with ritual to help embody your desired intention. We’ve created 7 divine aromatherapy blends, when combined with your daily morning and evening routines – you’ll be practicing the art of transformation, turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. For some useful tips to bring harmony into your life and balance to Body & Soul, visit our website at www.byronessence.com.au/be-inspired/rituals.

By Roberto Vittorio

It is where we came from,

and it’s where we rest when all is quiet.

It is what we are made of,

and it’s a joy to share it,

at every opportunity.

Every moment is a chance to share love,

to be love,

even when we feel down.

Try sharing some love and see how your mood lifts,

because it never goes anywhere, it will always be here when we check.

So check, find the love that rests within, at all times, everywhere, for everyone.