Tag: food

I love to pause on Friday at sundown to light the Shabbat candles, a Friday night ritual for observant Jews.  I didn’t grow up in a home where there was any religion or any rituals. (And I’m not an observant Jew.) But over the past couple of years this has become a ritual that I am in love with.

I light three candles for past, future and present (in the Jewish tradition typically only two candles are lit) from the first strike of the match on the box, I’m inviting in and I feel connected to, the mystery I’m longing for, in a holy way.  It centers me into the present and reminds me of what is important.  It’s like everything outside of me falls away and I’m here only in the energy of the moment.  Every time I light the Shabbat candles I marvel at the simplicity of this act and the holiness it inspires.

I pray the Shabbat prayer and I welcome the Holy Mother into this sacred act.  (Not a Jewish thing to do but it’s a me thing to do) I hold Holy Mother, Sophia, Shekinah, my parents, my ancestors, my angels and celestial beings who are with me, in my heart as I give thanks. It’s as if I’m uniting the past and the future and infusing it into the present.

This Shabbat I’m thinking of my gratefulness for the two courses I’m taking.

I’m grateful for Soul Vows with Janet Conner and Blogging from the Heart with Susannah Conway, I’m in love with both of them.

I’m grateful for all the amazing new bloggers/dreamers I’m meeting who are making this journey so precious.  And for those I know from previous courses.  I am grateful for their willingness to share their hearts.  In their sharing they are opening doorways into my own inner self.

I welcome you to share your own ritual, one that centers you and fills you with gratitude. Please share it and post it here.

With gratitude and blessings,

masha

© Masha Gitel Ellman 2015

I signed up for Blogging from the Heart on the first day Susannah Conway opened it up for registration.  I had been waiting since last year when I first read about it, to take this class.

In the meantime, I had no intention of signing up for any other classes.  I like to take one class at a time and be able to really savor them.

But then I get a newsletter from Janet Conner that her course Soul Vows is open for registration.  This is a course I already took twice and had no intention of taking it again now that I was signed up for Blogging from the Heart.  But her newsletter nagged at me and I knew that I needed to take this class.  Janet’s book Soul Vows was just released and I’m mentioned in that book, telling how I received three of my soul vows last year.  Her courses are all deep, mystical inspirations that open ways and doors I never knew existed.  I followed my guidance and signed up.

After I signed up, of course those inner critical voices started in on me.

(No matter how much inner work I’ve done, they still show up.)

Oh no, what have you done?  How will you do it?  Two courses at the same time?  Maybe you should opt out of one of them.  You can make up an excuse.  You know you’re not going to be able to keep up.  And on and on…those critical inner voices were out in full force, out of control and creating havoc inside of me.

For two days I was immersed in thoughts of not being able to do this, and how am I going to do it, and here I’m spending all this money, and bla bla…  And then I remembered to ask my angels and celestial beings to help me.  The answer came right away – of course, I need to STEP INTO MY POWER.  (This is one of my vows) The Universe is supporting me and everything will work out perfectly.

I let my inner critical voices know that I’m in charge and they can rest now.  I love them, but I got this.

So, I’m in the middle of Soul Vows and my new Blogging from the Heart course started today.  Yesterday I found out that I will be receiving daily emails, filled with inspiration and to do’s, which by every account should be freaking me out, (I didn’t know it was going to be daily emails) and yet, I’m calm and excited, jumping up and down for joy and I know that everything is exactly as it should be and I am more than excited about both Soul Vows and Blogging from the Heart.

Yeahhhhh!!!

I am inspired!!!

And so my beautiful friends, I’ll be sharing my journey from my heart here on my blog.  Please feel free to comment, ask questions, offer your help if you feel moved to do so.

I am journeying with an open heart.

Blessings,

masha

© Masha Gitel Ellman 2015

We live in partnership with Mother Earth.

We are not separate from we are One with.

Today I remember to bless my food and give thanks for the generous abundance I receive.

When I honor Mother Earth I am honoring my life.

Artist~Shawnee Sharpe

Many Blessings,

© Masha Gitel Ellman 2015

Please share how you are honoring yourself and Mother Earth, love to hear from you.

My 100 Day Project 4.7.15 – Day 2

Plant The Seeds for a New You 

Gift yourself with something special just for you.

It’s Spring and the universe is waking up from its deep winter sleep bringing forth everything new.  Trees are blooming, flowers are taking root, and so are YOU.

Start today, plant seeds into the soil of your soul and watch them unfold.

Decide to love yourself unconditionally.

No demands.

No – I have to be perfect.

No – I can’t believe I’m so stupid.

No – my hair is horrible today.

No – I look too fat, too skinny.

No – I can’t do math.

NO putting yourself down because of anything in any way.

Today you start – plant the seeds that will –

Elevate you.

Inspire you.

Encourage you.

Support you.

Love you.

Here are some seeds –

Look at yourself in the mirror, or just say to yourself

I love me.

I love me.

I love me.

I am special

I am wonderful

I am brilliant

I am perfect just the way I am.

I am enough.

I am beautiful.

 

Go ahead try it, see how it feels.  Feel free to add to this list, say what feels good to you.

Plant only loving seeds and watch your life change.

Leave a comment if you feel moved to do so I love hearing from you.

Many Blessings

© Masha Gitel Ellman 2015

The 100 Day Project

4.6.15   Day 1

Today is Day One of the 100 Day Project with Elle Luna & The Great Discontent.  I decided to tackle this challenge of being present to creating for 100 days.  My project is to write something inspirational for 100 days.  It can be something I write, an essay or just an uplifting affirmation, or something that I admire from someone else, a quote that is meaningful to me and post a picture along with it.

For me this is an opportunity to do something fun, creative, quickly and without allowing fear to rule.  Something that I won’t have the time to write and re-write and delete.  An opportunity that I am committing to just do, and see how it will unfold.

In other words I am letting my………..inner OUTRAGEOUS come out.

So here it is this is day 1 of my 100.

This is the perfect time to begin the new.  It’s springtime, which means new birth, renewal.  The earth is bringing forth its wonders and we have the opportunity to begin on a re-new-ed journey.  And I feel a renewed sense of powerful energy trying to emerge.

Today I step into my sacred power!!!

If you would like to participate in the 100 Day Project here’s the link.

https://thegreatdiscontent.com/100days

Oh and by the way, I won’t be posting my 100 Day Project every day since I don’t want to overload you with emails.

I invite you to join in the fun, post your project, lets inspire each other.

Many Blessings

© Masha Gitel Ellman 2015