How Will You Celebrate The New Year 2018 and The Full Moon?

With each New Year, we find ourselves with an opportunity to start over with a fresh new perspective, reset our personal goals as well as review the previous year and all of the events that had transpired. 


This year, we will begin the New Year on a Full Moon! That's a huge energetic and lunar push to jump-start the New Year on Monday, January 1st, 2018. The Full Moon is in Cancer during the time of Capricorn. 

What can we expect from this Full Moon on New Year's Day? 
We are transitioning from the fiery and airy 2017 into the flowing intuitive waters and grounded, sage earth energy of 2018. You may have already been feeling the effects of 2018 and are super-sensitive emotionally and are sponge-like picking up on everyone's feelings as well as your environment. Your intuitive abilities are and will continue to heighten. With the earthy energy of Capricorn, you are receiving wisdom from the higher, higher self. The higher, higher self resides in a more expanded and ascended realm of existence. This energy can and will blow your mind as you experience epiphany after epiphany this year.

Many people, myself included love to create ceremony during the time of the Full Moon and the New Year. This year, we are combining these two events into one. Below I have listed some rituals and suggestions that can assist you as you embrace this powerful lunar event as we move full steam ahead into the New Year.

Full Moon ~ New Year Suggestions For 2018:

1. Releasing Ceremony - Write down all of the things that you would like to leave behind in 2017.  Be sure to thank spirit for all of these challenges because they have made you stronger and wiser. Read them out loud and then release them. Next, you can burn or bury them and energetically leave them behind as you forge ahead. Buh Bye Felicia ;)

2. Write Down Your Intentions ~ Writing down your goals on paper helps to ground those intentions into the physical. You are using the 4 elements of creation as you do so ~ earth, water, air and fire. You have the idea (air), you feel the desire (water), you write down your intention on paper with a pen or pencil (earth) and then you bring in spirit and take action by being proactive as you set on your journey (fire). 

3. Water Magic ~ Since the Full Moon is in Cancer, why not do a little water magic? You can take a healing bath with sea salt, epson salt, Himalayan salt and the herbs and essential oils that correspond with your intention. Another activity would be charging up your drinking water by either placing crystals that can help you with your intention in your water. You may also write your intention on your water bottle. The water will take on the property of the words written on it. Be sure to check to make sure the herbs and crystals you select are non-toxic for the skin and ingesting in your water.

4. Surround Yourself with Positive and Goal-Oriented People - We are influenced by the people and the environments we place ourselves in, there is no way around it. Consciously make the effort spend your time with people who are happy, successful and who are loving life. This is an excellent way of raising your own vibration and keeping you focused on your future goals. Seeking out a mastermind group is also an excellent way of keeping your eye on the prize.

5. Know Your Limits - Over-committing ourselves is something many of us struggle with and is one of the number one reasons why we do not achieve most of our goals. Writing down your goals with a loosely structured timeline is a healthy and realistic way to work towards the intentions that you have set out for yourself. 

6. Take Personal Responsibility - When you make a mistake ~ own it! If you make poor decisions ~ own them! If you hurt another ~ own it! If you find yourself in a mess, take responsibility and don't blame others for your decisions, actions and or inaction. By taking responsibility for what we say and do, we understand that we are in control of our own lives and destinies. When we take control and ownership of our experiences, we have the power to change these experiences for the better. I would rather be at the helm of my own ship than giving up my free will to another to choose my destiny. 

7. Go On Vacation or A Staycation - Taking time off from work as well as the the day-to-day stresses of life is one of the healthiest things we can do for ourselves. Taking a break resets your mind, emotions and physical body. Schedule regular trips to places you haven't been before or hunker down at home, relax and do nothing. The break from the day-to-day grind often is all we need to get back on course with our goals.

8. Reward Yourself - Positive Reinforcement is an excellent way to reward yourself for all of the hard work and discipline you have put towards your goals. If we do not have some type of celebration as we cross the finish line, then where is the joy and recognition for our accomplishments. We will always have something to strive towards as long as we have a physical body, so you might as well treat yourself each and every time you meet your goals. You deserve it!

May 2018 bring each and every one of you ~ JOY ~ LOVE ~ LAUGHTER ~ EXCELLENT HEALTH ~ PEACE ~ SUCCESS

Blessings and Light,

Laurie Barraco

10 Really Cool Things To Do With Candles

I have been using candles to enhance my magical intentions for as long as I can remember. 

There is something so beautiful and magical about the ritual of gazing into the flame of a candle that has been charged, blessed and lit with the intention of moving and shifting energy in your life.

Here are my top 10 favorite candle activities:

1. When I recognize that one of my chakras is out of balance, I often will burn the corresponding color of the chakra that needs a little TLC. Root - red, Sacral - orange, Solar Plexus - yellow, Heart - green/pink, Throat - blue, 3rd eye - indigo, Crown - white or gold.
2. I love anointing my candles with oil to add a little extra oomph to my magic. The type of oil I use depends upon my intention. Ex. for peace - lavender or money - cinnamon. Be sure to research any oil before using it on any candle for safety purposes.
3. When I feel the need to clear the energy in my home, office or personal space, I burn a black candle first to clear and absorb the negative influences and then I will burn a white candle to bring in the light and blessings.
4. I love to inscribe my candles with either a toothpick, pencil or inscribing tool with my intention to bring in more of a personal touch to my magic.
5. I utilize the phases of the moon to help me to either bring in or take away energy. During the time of the Full Moon to the New Moon we are taking away energy. From the New Moon up to the Full Moon we are bringing in energy. 
6. I always make a point of keeping track of how long it takes to burn my candle. I will then use the timing to determine how long it may take to manifest my intention. For example - If it took 3 hours to burn, then it means my results may take either 3 days, 3 weeks or 3 months to manifest in the physical.
7. I often will use the flame as a divination tool by scrying into the flame and allowing the candle wax and flame to speak to me, guide me and teach me. I always read the wax during and after the candle has burned. You will often find that there are pictures, symbols or initials in the wax.
8. When working in ceremony, I will use 5 different candles to represent the 5 elements and directions. Yellow in the east /air, Red in the south/fire, Blue in the west/water, Green in the north/earth and White in the center for spirit. The energy in the center is absolutely amazing and sacred. I suggest that everyone must give this activity a try!
9. I infuse my Reiki energy into each and every candle I use. I add the Reiki symbols to my candles which adds that extra, extra oomph to them. If you have not yet received the Reiki II attunement, any power symbol would work such as an Ankh, the Star of David,  Pentagram or even a Heart can and will enhance your magic.
10. I will invoke some non-physical helpers such as: archangels, masters of light or ancient deities such as Isis or Lakshmi to help bring in the energy to assist with my magic. There are many different resources that you can refer to help you coordinate the proper colors, aromas, herbs etc. to help align you with the energy of the light-being you would like to work with.

I prefer to work only with my own intentions. Often people will ask me to work a little magic for them. I am always careful to be sure free will boundaries are not crossed and that the intention is in alignment with the universal laws of morality and ethics. Never, ever, ever add someone to your magic without permission!!

Don't forget that a little candle magic does not take the place of being proactive in your life and taking the initiative to change your life where you know you are not happy or meeting your full potential. 

I love using candles as a focal point for my magic and the element of fire sure does gets the ball rolling!

Blessings and Light,

Laurie Barraco

The Do's and Don'ts During Mercury Retrograde

If you find yourself experiencing difficulty with getting projects started, communicating with others, and your electronics seem to be going haywire lately, it could be because Mercury is retrograde at this time. The planet Mercury went retrograde on July 26th, 2018, and we will feel the effects until August 19th, 2018. Many of us, myself included, have blamed Mercury for our mishaps when the planet goes retrograde. There are some suggested do's and don'ts that can help you survive Mercury retrograde during this potentially challenging time. Btw, there are some benefits during this time as well as you'll see below.

First, let's define what does Mercury retrograde mean? The planet Mercury rules communication, contracts, paperwork, travel, the mind/thoughts, and ideas. For about three weeks at a time, the planet goes, which can and often does cause confusion and a bit of chaos in our lives. When Mercury is retrograde, certain areas in our lives could benefit when we take some time to reflect and go within. However, there are also some things that it would be best to avoid doing.

Dont's

• Make important decisions
• Sign contracts
• Buy a car
• Begin a new relationship
• Take anything personally at this time

Do's

• Take your time reading paperwork/contracts
• Reflect on your past choices
• Have back-up plans for travel
• Repair your car
• Re-color your hair
• Review your financial situation
• Give yourself and your space a good clearing
• Release an unhealthy habit

What You Can Expect

• Miscommunication - people may be misinterpreting  and or you may misinterpret other's words and intentions
• Electronics are going haywire - computers, clocks, telephones, etc.
• Batteries dying
• Angry behavior
• Mistakes
• Getting lost, tardiness
• Increased number of accidents
• People from your past may make come back into your life

As you can see, there are benefits to the Mercury retrograde cycle. You are being presented the opportunity to stop and review your relationships, finances, and the decisions you have made. Your life doesn't have to be put on hold when Mercury is retrograde, and sometimes, we must sign contracts or have challenging conversations with others. My advice is to take your time and think before you speak, don't take anything personally, give yourself extra time to get to your destinations and have a few back-up plans in place.

Blessings and Light,
Laurie Barraco

11 Feng Shui Tips To Attract Love

Feng Shui is the Eastern practice of working with chi or the cosmic life force energy along with your desired intention to create a specific environment in your home and or work environment. One of the most popular reasons people use Feng Shui is to either bring in love or spice up their romantic relationships. 


11 Feng Shui Tips To Attract Love 

1. Burn pink, red and or white candles along with your intention. It is best to work with 2 candles at a time because we are working with relationships and traditionally a relationship is between 2 people. 
2. Place rose quartz in your bedroom and or relationship corner. The relationship corner of your home/space is in the far right hand corner of the dwelling. Rose quartz is pure love and vibrates at a high frequency. It is best to work with 2 rose quartzes instead of 1 because we are working with pairs ~ you and a partner.
3. Create room for your partner in your bedroom and make sure there is enough closet space for them to make themselves cozy in the same home.
4. If at all possible, decorate your bedroom and relationship corner with pairs of objects. An example of this would be lamps, photos, end tables etc. 
5. Make sure the photos in your bedroom are a representation of your vision of what a loving and balanced romantic relationship would look for you. Move the family photos that have children and parents into another part of your home. This one makes sense doesn't it? We wouldn't want them in this private area of our space would we? 
6. De-clutter both the bedroom and relationship corner in your home so that the chi flows freely and effectively. Ideally we would not want to have clutter in any area of our home however, the bedroom tends to collect clutter with clothes etc. 
7. Decorate your bedroom with inviting and warm colors with accents of reds, whites, greens and pinks and be sure to keep the bedding clean and crisp.
8. Get rid of extra pillows and or stuffed animals on the bed. These objects are taking up space physically and energetically in your bed. Make room for your companion!
9. Aromatherapy is a very effective approach to creating the ambiance of your choice. To bring romance and balance into your love life use oils such as; ylang ylang, jasmine, clary sage, geranium, rose, and cardamom. To keep your room smelling fantastic I suggest either using an oil diffuser or spraying a mist that has been blended for love. 
10. Limit amount of mirrors that you have in your bedroom and if at all possible, get rid of all mirrors. Mirrors deflect energy and will cancel out all of the Feng Shui cures you have been implementing into your bedroom.
11. Take all work and fitness activities out of the bedroom and into another place in your home. These activities are energetically a romance blocker. The goal is to have your bedroom feel calm and relaxing, not busy. 

All of these Feng Shui tips will help you to create the energetic foundation that is welcoming a healthy, harmonic, and loving relationship into your life. Don't forget to do your part by tending to what is going on within you so that you are emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually ready for your ideal relationship. It is important that we are the partner that we desire for ourselves. 

Much Luck and Love,

Laurie Barraco 

Find Out How To Reclaim Your Energy!

If you are like me, you lead a busy life and the signs of fatigue seem to creep up from time to time. These symptoms are usually warning signs that I am a quart or two low on energy aka life force energy. I typically begin to experience these symptoms after I have been over-doing it and haven't taken the time to slow down and recharge my batteries. Leaking energy and having low energy levels is a common occurrence for those who are people pleasers, healers, empaths, counselors, teachers, basically all of us who are natural givers and have a hard time saying no. 

What Are The Symptoms? 

• Sluggishness ~ Normal every day activities are taking extra energy and extra long to accomplish.
• Restlessness ~ Even though you are tired, you may have a hard time falling and staying asleep. The restlessness is probably due to being overly tired. This undoubtedly is an unhealthy cycle to be in wouldn't you agree?
• Lack of Motivation ~ You struggle to get projects started and forget about even completing them.
• Overly Emotional ~ Everything seems to set you into an instant emotional spiral going from happy, to sad, to angry and frustrated. You may even find yourself as being unusually sensitive.
• Struggling To Complete Thoughts ~ Your mind races from subject to subject and you can't make up your mind about anything going back and forth and back and forth.
• Low Immune System ~ You are constantly sick with the flu, colds, IBS, headaches, etc. and are struggling to stay healthy.
• Short Temper/Zero Patience ~ Feeling as if everyone else is going in slow motion and everything is taking forever leaving you stagnant and stuck. You may be taking out your frustrations out on others.
• Defensive ~ Taking everything personally and being defensive is a sign of exhaustion because you are already frustrated from a lack of energy and may not have the mental clarity to rationalize what other people's intentions truly are.

These are all symptoms of fatigue/low energy levels and when you are experiencing these side effects, it's really hard to function in your day to day life. If you allow these symptoms to go on for too long you will be completely miserable, cranky, toxic, and it can be a huge challenge to get back on track to where you want and should be. 

What Can We Do?

• Self Awareness ~ Check in with your thoughts and emotions from time to time to see if you are showing and or experiencing any of the above symptoms. 
• Set Boundaries ~ Know your limits of how much you can handle on your plate and get real honest with yourself. Learn how to say no to yourself and others without feeling guilty or explaining yourself to others. 
• Energy Healing ~ Schedule a healing session with your massage therapist, and or your trusted energy/Reiki healer. 
• Color Therapy/Wear Yellow ~ Yellow is the color of the sun, brings in happy feelings of joy, innocence, and reenergizes us simply by wearing and or surrounding ourselves with the color yellow. 
• Listen to Your Favorite Music ~ Music not only soothes our soul, but it can also shift our mood instantly. If you need a little pick me up, turn on and turn up the tunes that get your energy moving and grooving. 
• Yogic Breath of Fire ~ Breathwork brings oxygen into the system and helps refresh your mind, body, and spirit. 
• Soak Up The Sun ~ If you close your eyes, open your arms, turn your face towards the sun, and take a deep breath, you'll instantly receive a boost of energy.
• Crystal Therapy ~ Crystals such as; citrine, fire agate, amber, tiger's eye, and yellow obsidian will bring in that energizing energy of the sun.
• Aromatherapy ~ Wearing, diffusing, and or inhaling oils such as; lemon, lemongrass, peppermint, orange, grapefruit, and lavender will jumpstart your motivation.
• Solar Plexus Work ~ Leaking energy from your solar plexus is a common reason why you may be tired. There are many reasons why the solar plexus is leaking energy such as; emotional cording to others, little or no willpower, and low self-esteem are a few reasons as to why the solar plexus is compromised. Balancing this chakra through energy healing, Reiki, toning, aromatherapy and crystal therapy can help you reclaim your energy and stamina.

Exhaustion and low energy levels are something that everyone encounters in their lives from time to time. By paying attention to what's going on within ourselves, we can prevent burnout as well as the symptoms that are associated with fatigue. I'm sure that we all can agree, the symptoms that are a result low energy levels are not pleasant and are frustrating. You can reclaim your energy and your life simply by keeping an eye out for the tell-tale signs and keeping these tips I mentioned in mind before things get out of control :)

Blessings and Light,

Laurie Barraco 

4 Must Have Crystals For Empaths

Empaths are energy-sensitive individuals that are highly affected and influenced by their environment. One of the best defenses that I have found as an empath has been wearing and or carrying gemstones that will keep my aura strong and help me to remain grounded and centered. ​



Hematite - Hematite is very effective with grounding and protecting the individual. It soothes the emotions which keeps the user focused and in control.

Fluorite - Fluorite also stabilizes and protects the aura. It is extremely useful in deflecting electromagnetic smog and stress. Fluorite helps to create and keep healthy boundaries within relationships and overcoming drama. ​

Black Tourmaline - Repels and protects against negative influences and psychic attacks. Black tourmaline increases stamina and deflects negativity while one is engaged in highly emotionally-charged situations.

Citrine - Citrine is a powerful regenerator, empowering crystal that protects the aura. It also acts as a shield for the solar plexus. The solar plexus is the area that most empaths absorb the energy from their environment.





Uses: 

• Carry in your pocket or in a bag with you
• Wear as jewelry
• Keep in a room where there is a lot of energy and traffic
• On a picture of yourself, it will keep the energy flowing to you as long as is needed for distance healing and energy protection

Be sure to cleanse your crystal once a week with sage, sea salt or whatever method you use to clear your crystals. They will be more effective when they are cleared and charged. 

You can find any of these crystals at your favorite spiritual store. If you do not have a store nearby, you can also find these crystals @The Mystical Moon online store.


Blessings and Light,
Laurie 

Are You Overstimulating Your 3rd Eye?

Developing your intuition is an important part of personal development. Intuition helps us trust our decisions, keep us safe, protected and keeps us aligned with our purpose here on planet Earth. A common issue many encounter as they are developing their third eye (intuitive center) is that they overstimulate their pineal gland and do not create a strong foundation for the energy to build upon. You can say that they are top heavy. The upper chakras are receiving a lot of attention through psychic development exercises.  It is equally as important for you to pay attention and stimulate your other 5 chakras: throat, heart, solar plexus, sacral and root.  The pineal gland becomes overstimulated and overactive as a result of these psychic development exercises. Before you know it, you begin to experience the 4 most common symptoms of an overstimulated pineal gland. If you are not aware of where the pineal gland is, it's located in the third eye center of the body. It helps us connect with other dimensions as well as our ability to predict the future and see psychic energy.

4 symptoms of An Overstimulated Pineal Gland

1. Difficulty in concentrating, struggling to stay focused
2. Headaches
3. Blurred vision, pressure in the eyes, sensitivity to light
4. Insomnia

What You Can Do To Calm An Overstimulated Pineal Gland

• Rub a grounding oil on your third eye. Patchouli, peppermint, sandalwood, chamomile, frankincense and or blue tansy will bring relief.
• Cover your third eye with either a hat, bandana and or a bindi.
• Avoid fluoride!
• Placing a crystal like tiger’s eye, hematite, amethyst, or fluorite on your third eye will help soothe an overstimulated pineal gland.
• Schedule a Reiki, cranio sacral healing session.
• Hugging a tree will help you ground the energy into the Earth.
• Eat root foods such as carrots, sweet potatoes, dark chocolate, and or protein.
• Do some yoga or breath work exercises. This will move the chi through your energy centers.
• Avoid crowds for a few days.

Each and every one of us has psychic gifts and these gifts vary from person to person. We do ourselves a disservice when we compare our growth to others. Some people have clairvoyant abilities from birth and some of us have to work at it a little harder. Your psychic abilities will increase as time goes on with practice and patience. Being impatient and trying to rush the process will only cause you to be out of balance and experience some of the symptoms I have mentioned above.

Take your time, enjoy the process and let go of your expectations of how and when you will be able to achieve your goals. Your gifts will be online when the time is perfect for you. Patience and trust are part of the development process.

Blessings and Light,

Laurie Barraco