Category: Travel+Spirit

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6 things to do in the small, beautiful town of Uvita, Costa Rica

uvita, cr

I recently was intuivitely called to visit Costa Rica for an ayahuasca ceremony. But instead of visiting the more touristic side of the Guanacaste province, I decided to check out the small town of Uvita.

Although I didn’t have much time here, it felt safe and right at home very quickly and I would recommend this area to anyone wanting to experience another area of Costa Rica that’s a little more off the beaten path.

  1. Visit the Beach, Marino Ballena National Park

Uvita is located on the south pacific coast and what keeps this particular beach so beautiful is the fact that you must pay a fee to enter. This beach area is also a national park, where you can spot plenty of wildlife on the coastline as well as whales in the ocean! I recommend early in the morning if you want to spot monkeys or sloths, and you may even catch a few crocodiles!

This area is also surrounded by parrots high in the sky and toucans, so keep an eye out!

2. Nauyaca Waterfall

ust outside of Uvita is the epic Nauyaca waterfall. This was my favorite attraction here, as I am a waterfall fanatic! If your not renting a car, you could taxi to this area. It’s about 35 minutes outside of Uvita. You can also catch a bus from Uvita to Dominical and another bus from Dominical to San Isidro and ask for them to drop you off at these waterfalls. This is what I did and it saves a whole lot of money to use the bus system.

There is a fee to enter the park and an option to pay extra to take a car down to the main trail. And believe me, you want the car. Unless you are well prepared, I wouldn’t recommend the walk as it is nearly 4 miles one way in the Costa Rican heat.

You can definitely spot wildlife along the way. I spotted many toucans and I’ve heard if your there in the morning, you can see sloths and monkeys.

The main trail to the waterfall is very short and there is an option for the overview as well as to the bottom of the waterfall. It is a double tiered, wide falls that you can swim at the bottom of or even swim accross to take a picture right under the falls. It is a powerful gust so be careful! There are plenty of rocks to hang out at during your stay and this spot will not disappoint.

3. Corcovado

Unfortunately, my tour fell through to see this area near Uvita. Corcovado is a national park, about a 30 minute boat ride from Uvita. The region is so rugged that it is only accessable by boat and I would highly recommend a tour. This area is known to be amongst the three most diverse ecosystems in the world by National Geographic and perfect for nature and animal lovers.

I would not recommend trying to find tours online, as I did. Instead, walk around the small town and there will be many shops that offer tours.

4. Learn to surf

This area of Costa Rica is well known for surf! You can book a surf lesson in Uvita, Domincalita or Dominical (for the more experienced). I unfortunately did not get to try, but if you have a good amount of time here, I would highly recommend.

5. Slide down Uvita Waterfall

Uvita has many hidden waterfalls, Uvita is one of the more well known ones. You could definitely walk here if you’d like to save money on a cab, but if not, there are plenty of taxis that can take you. You’ll feel like a part of the jungle here. There’s a small fee of 2 mil colones (about 3 dollars usd) to get inside and then a small hike along a beautiful river with many opportunities to go for a swim.

Keep going to the end to see Uvita waterfall. It isn’t very high or wide but it is a simple gem with something special about it. Locals love it! you can actually swim up to the waterfall, climb up a ladder to the top and either jump off or slide down the waterfall into the pool at the bottom!

Of course, I had to try this and be sure to be prepared for how fast the waterfall takes you, but I highly recommend!

You can also feel free to book tours to the hidden waterfalls of Uvita. A taxi driver could probably take you to a few as well. Just tell them to take you to all the local waterfalls!

6. Visit Isle Uvita

A short boat ride from Uvita, you’ll need a tour guide to get here. This area is perfect for those who want a day on the water to snorkle the south Pacific.

If only I had more time here to experience it all… it will for sure call me back. I would say that this area of Costa Rica (Costa Rica in general) is very safe and very quiet. If you would like a more peaceful visit to CR, Uvita is perfect. Dominical for those who want to hit up a few more bars and surf.

I stayed at Casa Morpho for a budget stay while I was here and ate often as a vegetarian at El French Cafe.

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Visiting Central Colorado

When I first visited Colorado, I honestly had no idea what to expect. Landing in Denver, I didn’t expect this area of CO to be so abundant in wildlife and adventure. To anyone who plans to visit, even for a small time such as an overnight layover, there is much to see in this area of the state. None of which have any park fees (that as a Washingtonian, I was very used to.)

Here are the ones that I experienced and that I highly recommend. Though I shall caution you to not overdo yourself, as you can get easily winded due to the high elevation gain in the mile high city.

1. Red Rock Park + Amphitheater

This park is a short 30 minutes from Denver and an easy, yet beautiful exploration for a long layover that will not disappoint. There are a few different ways to explore this park, you can head up to the amphitheater and get a view of the whole park or you can use the loop trail that is about 1.5 miles roundtrip and mostly flat.

I recommend you try both to get the best experience, as it is not very difficult. Through the loop, you are walking through all the rock formations and also get some history along the way.

I was fortunate enough to see mule deer, plenty of birds in the brush and also a bobcat!

2. Garden of the Gods

This beautiful park is highly popular, so expect large crowds… but it’s for good reason that you must see for yourself. This park is located in west Colorado Springs, about an hour and 20 minutes from Denver. Simply driving into this park is nothing short of magnificent.

There are several parking areas here, so don’t feel pressured to wait around for parking at the first entrance, as this is the busiest. All parking areas allow access to all the trails. Take your time to soak in all the enormous rock formations and I recommend strolling down every trail, as they all have different things to see and other angles. Once you part from the beginning of the trail, you’ll find much less people on the back trails.

If you here during any season besides winter, beware of rattle snakes (at any park in Colorado). You can also spot prairie hawks at the tops of the rocks here. The hike itself is very easy, almost the entire loop is a wide paved walkway, although I recommend climbing up towards the tops as well.

Don’t forget to drive around the entire park! On the opposite side of the main lot is a beautiful view of all the rock formations and allows you to see them all at a new angle.

3. Rock Rock Canyon Open Space

I didn’t expect much from this place, but it over delivered by far! This area is way less touristy and truly is open wilderness. You can choose to stay on the path or crawl up into the rocks in a way that allows you to experience the rocks of Colorado in the best way you can.

This is located in west Colorado Springs as well and can be easily missed if you don’t pay attention.

There is a loop trail that allows you to see a lake in the middle that unfortunately I didn’t get to do but I highly recommend. I was able to see mule deer here as well as owls and a tremendous view of the Garden of the Gods from afar.

4. Palmer Park

My friend showed me this place to watch the sunrise and I highly recommend you do the same, as this area can have crowds during the day and it supplies the best views without the direct sunlight. Palmer Park is in Colorado Springs as well.

There are many ways to explore this area, you can go straight to the top and wander around or find a trail somewhere and experience as much of the area as you’d like.

This area has a variety of rock formations that are mostly grey with some red as well and has a great view of the city of Colorado Springs. Great place for bird watching, morning meditations and of course… watching the sun rise.

5. Pikes Peak

Now, I did not get to experience this hike, as it is for the advanced locals that are already acclimated to the high altitude. But you can see the peak of this mountain everywhere in Colorado Springs, there is apparently many ways to experience it, but the elevation gain is about 7400 feet! Depending on how you decide to hike this trail, it’s about 5 miles each way. You can also drive it or take a railway!

6. Devil’s Head Lookout

Unfortunately it was far too snowy for us to hike this area, but Devil’s Head is a Colorado staple. About an hour from Denver, this hike goes through tree lines on a simple 3 mile round trip hike. At the end, you climb up some stairs to the lookout house, where you can see amazing views of Denver and rock formations.

This hike does close on account of snow sometimes in the winter, so be sure to check if it’s open.

I now can see why so many love Colorado. There is such beauty to experience all around you while also being within a big city that has it all. All these trails were remarkably clean and the city reminded me of the PNW in it’s design and it’s people. I hope you visit soon and give these trails a try. 🙂

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10 Ways to connect with your divine energy with your moon cycle (aka your period)

In today’s busy culture, our monthly bleed is something many of us women are very disconnected with. It’s normal to stuff a tampon in and move on with life like it never skipped a beat and for many of us, we are on hormonal birth controls that can alter and even diminish our periods all together.

It’s this part of ourselves that we feel we need to hide, cover it up and move on with life. Many of us are raised to believe that it is gross and dreadful. In fact this is all we seem to hear about our cycles or we simply don’t talk about it at all, yet alone connect to it deeper.

But this paradym is shifting. If you’ve found yourself on this page than you are part of this paradym… so what does it mean to connect with your moon cycle and how can you do so intimately. Here are 10 tips that I recommend to do so.

1. Get off hormonal birth control

We no longer live in a world without options, we do have non hormonal birth controls coming to rise, including very effecient fertility tracking such as Natural Cycles. There are also plenty other non hormonal birth controls out there such as Phexxi and ParaGuard. Although, I cannot recommend these products having not tried them myself, I highly recommend a fertility tracker which can provide up to 98% effectiveness with perfect use.

Did you know many smart watches can also track your cycle?

Why hormone free? The hormones in these birth controls have a great effect on our behavior and our bodies. From my personal experience, over time with another form of IUD, my period disappeared all together and I had no relationship to it whatsoever. For some, they would consider this a blessing, but that’s not why you navigated to this page today. I wanted to connect with my cycle and what it meant for my body.

Only after removing my birth control and returning to my period that was much heavier and more painful than I remembered at 17, was when I could actually begin to understand my body better and honor my period.

2. Go back to pads OR period underwear

I recently switched back to pads this past year, as my period was heavier, it just didn’t feel right to stuff a tampon up there and ignore it. Not allowing my blood to flow out of my body as it should simply didn’t feel right to me anymore and the more women I spoke to actually agreed with me. Unless I need to do something very active, I’m using pads. You can actually use pads that have essential oils and other ingredients that can soothe your period pains.

Another method I’m recently falling in love with is period underwear. We have advanced technology nowadays that allows us to combine pads and underwear in ways that are comfortable, effecient and cute! There are many brands you can choose from but I am currently experimenting with Thinx. This option is also more eco-friendly and you can save $10 by clicking that link.

3. Honor your PMS

All the things that come with our bleed seems to have a miserable common theme, but this is all a stigma that we’ve heard and told ourselves so many times that we now believe it as truth. But how can we change this? Let’s learn to honor our PMS symptoms.

If you have cravings, honor that. Your body craves the things it needs, feel free to spoil yourself a little bit during this time. I love to get myself some Lindor chocolate and not feel guilty indulging. When it comes to period pains, I got a heating pad, and I honor extra rest and much less movement. I honor comfy clothing, skipping the gym the first couple of days or whatever my body calls for.

I’ve learned to really know my body and my emotions, I’ll go out less, be less talkative and less energetic. But instead of feeling bad about it, I know it’s a part of my moon and instead I fall into it fully.

4. Slow the f***k down!

One of the many things we can do to connect with our bleed is to slow down! I purposefully look at my schedule and have an idea when my period will be each month and plan around it. Trying to leave my schedule as open as possible and also to be aware of my emotional state during the time.

Take this time to maybe skip the gym for a few days and instead do some slow yoga, breathwork or meditation. Understand that your body is a miracle and how beautiful it is that it naturally detoxifies itself each month. Maybe try a meditation or journaling session about what you are releasing this month.

You may ask, how can I do this in a modern world where I have a 9-5 job? Well, this is a good question that I think comes to priorities. I believe we can live in a world where women can take at least 1-2 days off a month for their periods. Why do I belive this? You could relate this to feeling ill or being in pain if we allowed ourselves to. I have told my boss in the past that I had, had a painful night because of my period and I wont be making it in and to my surprise, he was very understanding. So if you come across this… give it a try.

5. Create a sensory experience + treat yourself

Make your monthly a whole vibe. A time of the month purely dedicated to coziness, honoring your craving, lots of naps, lots of delicious tea and saying no to things that you simply don’t want to do. I recommend using essential oils in your pads or period underwear to create that sensory experience of pampering your yoni.

6. Drink your raspberry tea

Not only is raspberry tea delicious, but it really does help regulate your period cramps. There are many teas with a variety of herbs with the best combination of delicious tea that can not only elleviate period pains, but also regulate mood, hormonal acne and bloating. These are brands such as OvaMoon. You can use code Shawntelle20 for 20% off your first order with OvaMoon.

7. Talk about your period with your partner

Within the last few months, as my period has become more prominent the last year, I’ve been opening up to having casual conversation about my period with my boyfriend. It’s funny that we keep this to ourselves, even with our partners. Such a simple act has created such understanding around this time of the month between my boyfriend and I. Through doing so, he better understands why I behave the way that I do and also what I need from him during this time.

8. Try a yoni steam

A yoni steam is another way to pamper your yoni. It is actually an ancient practice with endless benefits that go far beyond just your current state of affairs when your doing it. A yoni steam is a combination of herbs in whot water that you sit on and steam your vagina. These herbs are used to elleviate period pains, regulate your cycle, reduce bloating, detoxify the womb, reduce odor and is great for after birth nourishment.

There are a selection of yoni steaming options out there, but I love Soul Vibrance (and they also carry steam seats). they also give you guided meditation and rituals to elevate your steam experience, which I highly recommend.

9. Give your blood back to the Earth

Giving your moon blood back to Mother Earth is another ancient practice as a way to honor life itself as it runs through you and recognizing that as a blessing to give thanks for. There is no wrong or right way to do this, you can use blood from a diva cup or gather just a small amount that you can mix in with water to create a ritual for giving your blood bath to Mother Earth.

You can also sit out in the grass or somewhere out in nature with no panties and allow your blood to flow into nature as a medititative experience.

Did you know period blood is actually very nourishing for nature? Win, win.

10. Connect to your womb space

Just like our nervous system, because our womb is full of them… we can store trauma in our womb space. So take some time during your moon to honor your womb and all it’s magic. It’s from this space that all life is birthed and we as women are so magical for supplying it.

Many of us long for healing in our womb space, but there is not 3 step process for it. It simply begins with your intention and attention to this area of your gorgeous body. It begins with honoring other women and ourselves.

Connecting with power of our yoni’s allows us to connect deeper with the power of Universal life. You would be very surprised how centered these practices can allow you to feel. You’ll begin to honor your period for what it is and honor the ways it makes you feel, sending love to every craving and every cramp that proves our body is doing miracles.

I recommend trying some of the products above and really making a treat out of your next cycle. A treat for the mind, body and the Soul.

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Snow Lake and Mason Lake, WA

Each state in the PNW has it’s very special places to explore and although I did consider Oregon to be my favorite, there are things Washington has that Oregon doesn’t and vice versa. The windy, moody beaches and … the many lakes in the center of mountain tops, such as the Alpine Lakes along the Snoqualmie pass.

There are many hikes in this area, but today we are going to talk about Snow Lake and Mason Lake. You do not have to travel to Alberta, Canada to see Insta famous prestine blue lake waters amonst snow filled mountains. You can find them right here in Washington, as well many other locations in Washington state.

The first time I went to hike Snow Lake, it was closed off due to snowfall (isn’t that ironic). So instead, we ventured over to Mason Lake, I say this because if you plan to hike Snow Lake, I would say the end of Octobor may be the last time before the snow hits and it closes for the winter until the snow melts, as it can be a treturous trail.

MASON LAKE, WA FACTS

Dog friendly – Yes

Distance – 6.5 miles roundtrip

Elevation Gain – 2420 ft.

Mason Lake, also called the Ira Spring Trail, is right off I-90 on Snoqualmie pass. It is a 6.5 round trip hike with an impressive 2420 ft. elevation gain, highest point being 4320 ft. This trail is dog friendly and leads to the beautiful Mason Lake, which is not nearly as large as snow lake, but still beautiful and easy to find yourself a little nook that you can have lunch before heading back down.

It was full of grey jays when we went that LOVED our granola and ate it right out of our hands, which was one of my favorite parts of this hike, honestly. Of course, this lake is crystal clear and prestine, well worth the hike. Even our chihuahua, almost made it all the way up on his own!

SNOW LAKE, WA FACTS

Dog Friendly – Yes

Distance – 7 miles roundtrip

Elevation Gain 1800ft

We did make our way to Snow Lake later that year and it was well worth the wait. This hike is a little further, about 7 miles roundtrip with an elevation gain of 1800 ft., yet the highest point was about 4400 ft. You will take the West Summit exit, at the top of Snoqualmie, this hike takes you high into the mountain.

The hike starts off very steep but goes away quickly and stays pretty moderate the rest of the way, making it not very difficult, although much of it is on slick granite stone and can be challenging to not twist your ankle… not sure if I’d recommend it for kids. It is also dog friendly and our dog loved seeing snow, which wasn’t anywhere else on Snoqualmie but we started to see some half way through the hike.

If you go when the snow is melting, which we did, you will be hiking along water most of the way which is quite beautiful. You also will hike across a few small waterfalls, really making you feel connected to nature.

When you reach the top, you can see the lake from above, then you can hike all the way down to the lake itself, crossing some meadows and other small waterfalls. The views are incredible, you are in this bowl of snow covered mountains and crystal clear waters. When we went it was overcast and lovely, but I’m sure if you go with the sun out that the water shows it’s blue beauty.

We brought a fly rod because there are rainbow trout in this lake, but if you want to fish here, be sure to bring waders, as you would have to wade about 20 feet to throw a good cast.

I highly recommend this hike before the winter or beginning of spring, so you can see some of the beautiful snow top mountains reflecting on the water. You will not be disappointed.

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A Sacred Pause

It’s been a while since you’ve heard from me and it’s about time I explain why this is. I’ve been in what I like to call, a sacred pause. I took a step back (and still am) to really evaluate who I am, what I’m doing, what I stand for and just how well I truly know myself and purpose on this planet on a Soul level. 

There was a moment a few months ago, after returning from Mexico that I truly realized that showing up, trying to sell myself and market myself as this coach that can teach the world, also burnt me out. It didn’t feel aligned with how I wanted to live my life or teach my passions. I realized I was following all of the other advice around me as to how to succeed in this space and it wasn’t suiting me, it was tearing me down. I got sucked into comparison and wrapped up in my own head. Sometimes without even realizing it. 

After my many Harry Potterthons lately, I can say that it reminds of the time Dumbledore said in the Sorcerer’s Stone, “It does not do to dwell on dreams Harry, and forget to live.” I was in a space that I had tried to drag myself out of before, a space of dwelling on the dream and not being present in my own life but rather only noticing where my dreams didn’t lie within it. Frustrated with the lack thereof and when it would manifest into existence.  I felt major imposter syndrome from not being able to manifest my own deepest desires and yet teaching others to do so. And don’t give me wrong, I’m VERY good at it.  And this sacred pause has been a time to teach the teacher. To take my own advice and reavaluate what I truly want. 

Perhaps we all should take this time during this winter season ahead to do the same.  I was tired of feeling the urge to record my every breathwork session, meditation or latte art. Of documenting my every ceremony or everytime I thought my environment looked beautiful. And I have been taking the time to just be in it. No longer feeling the pressure that if my audience doesn’t see it than “oh my gosh, do they even think I’m spiritual, healthy, do they know I workout or that I have a fit body?? If I don’t record my meditation then they wont know I teach meditation!! If I don’t show them my full moon ritual then they wont know I guide moon rituals!!” 

Tell me the truth, as an influencer of any kind on the the online space, we’ve all been there. But I refused to put on a better looking shirt and brush my hair to do my breathwork in the morning just so that I can document it. I refused to take presence away from my ceremony’s so that I can make it look pretty on camera. In fact, I’ve taken a major step back from social media. Something about seeing “hot girl fall” TikTok videos just made me want to throw my phone at the wall. Because it quiet contrary goes against everything I believe and that I teach. Comparison, perfection, that there’s only one way to do things, that hard work everyday is all that makes you successful. If I see one more TikTok video of women making their beds all perfect, laying out their workout clothes, working out and making a healthy meal I just might scream. Do you feel me? It’s time this all ended.

The feeling like if you don’t have a latte machine and don’t make your bed every morning than your a disaster of a human or if you skip the gym your going to get fat. This is not what I teach, this is not what I stand for.  I want to stand for someone that can spend no time on this toxic thing called social media and still change people’s lives. By helping them find that what they are searching for is only inside of them. Not inside their computers or the content that they make. How to listen to their Soul and let that be what guides them and to feel at home with it, confident with it and aligned with every masculine action that they make. And give themselves the space to bathe in the feminine the rest of the time.  Because it gets to flow with ease. Because not all of us are Generators or Capricorns, we are not all built the same, so the the same thing will not work for everyone. 

If you’ve felt that the grind has left your energy depleted, left you feeling lost. If keeping up with the expectations of perfection has left you feeling like you don’t know who you are anymore. This is what I teach. To guide you back to the truth that you are not your body or your task list. You are not your job or your income class. You are your Soul and your Soul is begging you to let it guide you if you’ll only listen and shut off all of the noise. 

So if you can resonate with any of this (and if your still with me till the end than you probably are). Then I invite you to take a sacred pause with me. To step back from expectations to find what works in flow with you.  It doesn’t mean laziness, it just means taking time to slow down and see where your Soul guides you. To sit in loneliness if you must to shut off all other forms of judgement or opinions. Delete your social media apps for a while (don’t worry, they wont disappear).  To take some time to go inward, meditate, breathe, sit in ceremony, move with intention. It may seem like a downward spiral, but it’s only you killing the parts of you that never were meant to stick and recreating what was. And if you want help along the way, feel free to book a call with me below. As much as a I try, I cannot hide my love for sharing my story, writing it out and being vulnerable. So if you like content like this, please feel free to reply and let me know.

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In Your Element – Book Excerpt

In April of this year, I published my first book, In Your Element! This book is about manifestation and aligning with your Divine Path. It tell the story of my spiritual growth and how I’ve navigated my challenges using emotional intelligence and spiritual connection. This book is like my baby, it tells so much about the mental battle I have had within the journey of healing my traumas, rewiring the subconscious and putting stories that are not mine aside to uncover my true purpose. I turn this around in every chapter, to teach a lesson so that I can transmute this message further for you and inspire you to not be afraid of the healing journey ahead, but rather provide some insight.

So… today I’m going to give you a sneak peak into a chapter of my book today, I hope you enjoy.

THE CONCEPT OF PLAYING IT SMALL

In the spiritual development world, I’ve ran into the concept of “playing it small” many times.

“Why do you continue to play small?” “What’s keeping you from playing big?”

These questions confused me and rather irritated me! I fought with this question. For goodness sakes, I’m launching courses, writing books, running a podcast, doing collaborations. What the hell does that even mean, how am I possibly playing small, what else do you want from me?

I aspired to an online manifestation coach for a long time that made me confused by this. As her strategy was to be over the top, act like Kim Kardashian, dress extravagantly every single day and it led me to think, “is this what playing it big looks like?”

I just couldn’t play into it, no matter how hard I tried, it didn’t feel true to me. Within this process of trying on new things and eventually coming back to accepting myself as I am, I realized that this topic irritated me because I subconsciously was choosing not to accept what it meant to me.

Usually if something gets under your skin, it’s because y ou still have healing to do within the subject.

After a full day of much needed rest and disconnection from my phone, an intuitive hit came through to me. I was playing small in the belief in myself.

This realization turned this concept of playing it small around completely for me and has allowed me to teach it in ways that people can actually relate to. Rather than thinking they need to try so hard to be perceived as a #badbitch to achieve success.

You could be doing it all… but when someone asks you, “what have you been up to?” What do you say?

I caught myself inside of this as it happened, when I responded that I’m writing a book… how come it was this nonchalant energy? How come I was treating it like no big deal? Why did I feel weird talking to my family about what it’s all about?

Why did I feel fear around saying that I’m quitting my job and traveling to reconnect and align with my Element of inspiration that I believe will bring me happiness and therefore success? Why did I feel like I needed to justify it?

But most of all… why didn’t I instead feel empowered by these actions and decisions? They empowered me, but I knew they wouldn’t empower the people in my circle that are conditioned to the regular loop of 9-5, living for the weekends and paying your bills kind of life.

So I would play small. I wouldn’t talk about it much, I would play my big projects down a notch and within that, it made it grow slowly. This made big scary decisions even scarier and it made the very topics that I teach become something that I needed to prove to everyone around me.

So I would play small, again. In an environment that didn’t inspire me, with this longing to travel, this longing to move from my hometown. I longed for people that would have energetic response when I talk about how I’m doing big things in the world, but I also needed to believe that for myself before people could see it too.

Do you see how this seems to be this circle that leads you back to the same position you’ve always been in? Do you see how all this results in you playing small?

Playing small is the same concept that we often don’t want to accept. Clinging onto our current reality while trying to step into a new one and wondering why it hasn’t shown up already.

When you’re at the same job, the same home, the same town, the same friends, same relationship, same routine… same loop. If the reality you desire is far from this one, then you must supply the movement.

You must come into alignment with it all.

There are situations where your mindset and your energy are what needs to change… then there are times where you’re fighting everything but the physical action that is needed.

Playing small is like staying where you’re at, not making TOO big of a deal of the massive things you are creating in the world, because if you did then you’d have to truly believe it, truly step into all its magnificence and own your power!

You’d have to make all the decisions , take all the big leaps that are required of you. But this just where your expansive experience lies, on the other side of the resistance within you to play it small.

As I’m writing this to you, a friend of ours (my boyfriend and I) is in critical care… the doctors say he has zero chance.

To be honest, I wasn’t incredibly close with him, but we went out for drinks, had casino runs and lunch dates together a number of times. My boyfriend has known him since the 8th grade.

At 43, a sudden stroke, despite his relatively clean slate of health beforehand.

So why am I bringing you this grim news? Well, I believe that our friend was meant to teach the greatest lesson of all… that life is shot lived and unpredictable. That time is a gift, not a privilege.

It’s moments like these where the world stops for a minute and we tend to soak in moments deeper. When we begin to pay attention and gain presence in our lives.

It could have been anyone. It could have been me.

It’s these realizations that allow me to think deeper, “if my heart were to give out and move to the next life today… would I have fulfilled this life?”

Would you have said yes to more things, maybe said no to others? Would you have made the leap, done the scary thing, said “I love you” to that person or set that boundary with another? Would you have traveled to that place, taken that road trip, went on that adventure? Would you have started that business, written that book, shared that message?

It’s in these moments that I remind myself of one things… What are we waiting for? What are we waiting for to do the things that make us happy and fulfill our souls in this lifetime?

Or are we simply waiting to die? Are we simply waiting to start the next life, believe that it’s too late for us now?

We were put here with purpose, nothing is by accident and our callings are what we are meant to fulfill, no matter how “unrealistic” and no matter how scary.

We tend to fight them for so long and moments like these happen to shake and awake us to realize that this life is unpredictable, tomorrow is not guaranteed. We hear this so often and yet we never act upon the fact.

If you were to live your life as if tomorrow was not guaranteed, how would you live it? This is the life you were meant to live, simply because it calls you.

Would you start the youTube channel, the blog, the business, the coaching program, the mentorship, the book, the photography biz, travel to that place and the next place, do the dance class, paint the painting, start the Etsy shop or the physical shop? Would you record the song, start the family, cast for that movie or that modeling shoot, apply for that big job, talk to that person, set boundaries with another, say yes to the adventure?

Anything but… is playing it small. Not stepping into your callings, not stepping into what truly lights you up is playing it small.

I hope you enjoyed this excerpt from my book! If you would like to continue your read, In Your Element is available on Amazon and you can purchase it here! 🙂

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A Guide to short term living in Tulum, MX

Amongst many other things, one thing I learned while temporarily living in Tulum for two months is that this place calls many travelers from all over the world to do the same thing! Whether it’s one month or one year, I had met people from every corner of the world that came to Tulum in search of themselves, adventure or healing. And I can say that it is the perfect place for it all!

Tulum is about two hours south of Cancun, MX and has become a very popular Instagram hotspot for the past several years. There are people that are guided here to take photos with the Insta famous hot spots and people that are called there with no reason besides intuition guiding them to go on a journey to heal their Soul.

I was the second option here and I can say that Tulum is an extraordinary place to dive deeper into your spiritual journey as well as experience the sacred beauty of the Riveria Maya. If you are one of the many spiritual travelers, I’d like to give you the ins and outs I learned during my two month stay here.

Where To Stay –

If you plan to temporarily live in Tulum, there are several different areas of the small town you can choose to stay in. The most infamous is of course, the beach road. This is the area of Tulum right on the beach with all the fancy hotels and restaurants and is also the most expensive place to stay. I wouldn’t recommend it to the long term traveler, although if you simply plan to vacation, this area is very beautiful and full of life.

The other neighborhoods of Tulum include Downtown, La Valeta, Aldea Zama and an area that I don’t think has a name that is on the other side of the main downtown road. Make sure to look up the neighborhood before booking your long term stay, but feel free to spend a few weeks in one area and try out another, as they are not too far away from one another, but all have a very different vibe.

I spent my first two weeks in downtown, this was convenient because it’s very close to a lot of restaurants, stores and markets, but it is also very busy. Most of the downtown places to stay will be right along the main downtown road so it can be hard to feel particularly homey unless you are used to such living. Downtown is also closer to the beach road, if you plan on spending a lot of time at the beach.

Aldea Zama is another region in Tulum and this area is known for having a lot of jungle around, luxury villas but not a lot of other things to do around, it is further away from most restaurants, wellness classes and cenotes but also close to the beach. This is a more expensive area of Tulum, right after the beach road.

I spent a month living in the area known as La Valeta and this area was my absolute favorite! Many long term travelers come to this area and it’s easy to make yourself at home fast. This area has much nearby, but isn’t busy. It truly feels like a neighborhood of Mexico but is well spread out. There are plenty of amazing restaurants, wellness classes and other things nearby and you will find yourself running into other travelers often as well as locals!

I stayed at a place called Little Gem and I loved this area, as it was a small hotel with only nine rooms total and a main garden area that felt like your living room. There was also free bike rentals with your stay (which you’ll end up doing all your getting around via bicycle, scooter or motorcycle while staying here long term). The staff was extremely kind and I felt right at home there.

The other neighborhood of Tulum, I don’t believe has a name, but it is on the opposite side of downtown and this region is the least expensive and most filled with the local people, yet also further away from the places that you may find most events or meetups happening in Tulum.

Getting Around –

As I had mentioned before, the best way to get around the small town of Tulum is by bicycle, scooter or motorcycle. Don’t feel obligated to go straight to a motorcycle or feel the need for a scooter either if you do not feel comfortable. I got around by bicycle the entire two months I stayed in Tulum and was perfectly content. Although if you are comfortable with a scooter or motorcycle, it is a lot more convenient to travel further with these options.

There are also taxi’s everywhere you go in Tulum, they are VERY easy to access. You can walk right outside your door and find a taxi in five minutes TOPS. With that being said, taxi’s are not necessarily cheap here. But taxi drivers can charge a variety of pesos for a ride, depending on the season, time of day and traffic. I noticed the cost of a taxi dropping dramatically after the busy season of tourism. From 300 -350 pesos from La Valeta to the beach to 200 pesos, but this is with bartering and getting to know the prices and areas.

It is smart to ask your taxi driver for the cost before you get inside or claim your price beforehand. I will give examples of cost in the next section here.

Tulum Costs –

When I arrived in Tulum, I honestly had no idea how expensive it was there. Tulum is like the L. A of Mexico, so I would recommend to prepare for it being so. Although the currency is different, it’s important to understand it so that you’re not ignorant to how much you are really spending.

My rule of thumb is to consider every 100 pesos to be 5 USD, 1,000 pesos to 50 USD. Some places accept different currency exchange, but this is an average rule of thumb that never did me wrong.

Material things are especially not cheap here, the clothing most definitely. Tulum has a very boho, flow vibe that I love very much but the clothing is extremely expensive, so if you are traveling for a while, don’t depend on not packing fully to buy clothes in Tulum, because you may disappoint yourself. With that being said, the clothing is absolutely beautiful, so if you have some extra money, go ahead and splurge on the gorgeous handmade Mexican fabrics.

Food costs can vary upon where you go. Of course, if you go to a more stylish, fancy place, you will pay more as opposed to a more local spot. There are many stylish, boho restaurants worth visiting. Me personally, I am vegan and the local Mexican cuisine was not very vegan friendly, but Tulum in general has many vegetarian and vegan friendly food. But don’t be afraid to try out other types of foods such as the Italian, Mediterranean and Turkish food in Tulum.

I recommend using a travel credit card here, as well as all places you travel, so you don’t have to pay foreign transaction fees which can add up over time. I personally recommend the United Credit Card or the Venture One Capital One card.

I also found that the best bank to get your pesos from with the least amount of ATM fees was Banco Aztec.

Experiencing the beauty of Tulum –

One of the things I think is most special about Tulum is how close it is to many sacred cenotes in Quintana Roo. There are many beautiful denotes just a bike ride away from the neighborhoods of Tulum. Cenotes are a must do in this region of Mexico, as it is the only place in the world where the rivers run underground (only place you can find cenotes).

You can easily bike to these specific cenotes in Tulum, I will start with the closest to La Valeta and work upwards before going into the cenotes worthwhile for a taxi or motorcycle ride.

Cristol and Esconidos – You pay entry for both cenotes, (about 200 pesos) right across from one another. Not very popular, which makes them special for not having many people.

Mayan Blue – This one is super not well-known, when I went I had this whole place in the jungle to myself. 100 pesos entry (5 dollars)

Corazon – This may be my favorite cenote in Tulum. With crystal blue water, lots of underwater plants, fish and I even caught a little crocodile swimming along the grass lines (they are perfectly harmless). What made this cenote extra special is that it is not super popular either, so you get this place without all the tourists. I think this entry was 150 pesos (7.50 dollars).

Calavera – This cenote is extra special for it’s little holes that you can jump into the cenote through. there is a main giant hole you can climb into through a ladder or jump into, as well as smaller holes above you can step into and fall inside. It has hammocks, some music and sells beers nearby as well. This is a little more touristy, but worthwhile. 200 pesos entry (10 dollars).

Gran Cenote – This is the infamous Tulum cenote, to be honest, the tourism here makes it less enjoyable than it could be otherwise and for that reason it is probably my third favorite. But it is unique and pretty big. There are lots of turtles here to seeand caves to go through with lots of bats. This cenote is also very blue! Entry is 300 pesos (15 dollars).

Tankah Bay and cenote – I would say this is the limit for bike riding, as it was about a 30-35 minute bike ride on the highway. If you wanted you could definitely take a motorcycle or taxi here as well. The cenote is very small but not very popular so is very tranquil. The beach area here has a natural ocean swimming area made my rocks that create a gorgeous, bright blue swimming area!. 300 pesos for entry of it all (15 dollars).

Santa Cruz – This cenote is probably my second favorite. The brightest blue of all the cenotes I had seen, that is what makes this so special. There is also turtles here and a small restaurant that serves. This is about a 30 minute bike ride, I shared a taxi with a friend and was charged about 600 pesos for one way (30 dollars.) I can’t remember the entry for this cenote unfortunately.

Carwash – Another of my top cenotes, this one is about 10 minutes further than Santa Cruz, we also took a taxi here. I find this place unique because of the wildlife, because the people working were so connecting with the nature of this place. We had a guy show us where some birds were nesting and took us to where the crocodile sleeps, where bigger fish were, let us feed them and were just such amazing people. Also cannot remember the entry for this one.

Casa Tortuga – This is another beautiful cenote well known for diving. If you want to book a diving session, this would be the place. If your not diving, you do have to book a tour through the four different cenotes, half under caves and half open. This place is definitely unique for it’s caves but also very busy and a different experience within doing a tour. 450 pesos entry (22.50 dollars).

Dos Ojos – Dos Ojos is a full park of multiple cenotes (not all currently open due to the virus) We were able to visit dos palmas, the first eye and second eye cenote and cenote jaguar. Although there are many more. Cenote Jaguar is fun, with many places to jump off and a zip line to go across the large cenote as well.

Dos Palmas is a quaint little cenote with many lily pads and surrounded by nature, with not many people.

The first eye and second eye are the main cenotes of this park, both under caves and a unique dark blue color, these cenotes are definitely beautiful, although they are required to wear a life jacket in them. You can swim through these caves or you can book a diving experience here. For this park you can pay per cenote or a full pass for all of them for I believe 600 pesos (30 dollars, which I highly recommend.) You would need to taxi to this park.

Muyil Ruins – Muyil is a unique Mayan ruin experience, well preserved in the jungle of Quintana Roo. These ruins are honestly so beautiful, with the main attraction being El Castillo. What makes this place so unique is the surrounding jungle and the lack of tourism. Lots of the ruins in Tulum, such as the Tulum ruins, Coba and Chichen Itza are full of tourists and yet both times I came here there may have only been one family in the whole space. Only 50 pesos for entry (2.50 dollars).

Tulum Ruins – The Tulum ruins are unique to Tulum, right on the cliffs of the Caribbean. These ruins are in the open sun, so if you visit, do so on an overcast day or early in the morning.

Chichen Itza – I had visited these ruins in the past and I can tell you that they are my favorite, although very touristy and in the open sun, these ruins are truly unique, with the main attraction being the physical form of the Mayan calendar built by the Mayans that people today cannot explain. This is a must do, although I recommend VERY early in the morning doing so.

Chichen Itza
Tulum mexico

Coba – I never had the chance to visit Coba, about 45 minute drive from Tulum, it is becoming very popular and definitely would be worth while if you are in the area.

Laguna Kaan Luum – This lagoon is absolutely stunning, towards the way to Muyil, this lagoon is shallow most of the way, except for a large deep blue sink hole in the center that you are not allowed to enter. It is a gorgeous blue, with a large deck and area that sells snacks and beers, you may find locals brining coolers and hanging out here for the day. There are also hammocks and swings at this lagoon for your epic Insta shots!

My Favorites –

Now time to tell you the other places that that became my favorite hangout spots while living in Tulum for two months. These vary from restaurants, wellness and hangout spots.

Holistika – I. LOVE. THIS. PLACE. Holistika is at the end of La Valeta and is a restaurant, hotel and wellness center in the jungle of Tulum. It serves vegetarian and vegan cuisine that never disappoints. As well as this, there is a pool that you can hang out nearby in and a wellness schedule with regular meditation, yoga, breath work, sound healing and ceremonies going on daily. If you are staying long term, I recommend following them on Instagram so you can check out and sign up for their daily classes.

Sonido Del Mar – Another restaurant in La Valeta, this place is beautiful with an amazing vibe and also has daily yoga classes.

Ahau – This is a beautiful restaurant on the beach strip, this place is honestly so beautiful and has free salsa lessons on Thursday nights followed by amazing music. I love the vibe of this place.

Ikal – I spent much time at this place, a restaurant, hotel and wellness place on the beach. This place has amazing daily classes and ceremonies by the beach. If you come here to hang out for the day, you can grab a day bed, enjoy their menu and the beach!

Raw Love – If your looking for raw vegan food, this is the perfect place to get your health food fix. There are two Raw Love’s in Tulum, one right on the beach that is famous for it’s Instagrammable entrance and one downtown that is far less busy but just as delicious.

Botanica Garden – Another delicious restaurant, similar to Raw Love located in downtown

Canova – This place was very close to were I was staying, so I may be bias here, but this place is relatively inexpensive and delicious Italian food and wine.

Wrap Up –

Your personal favorites may differ from mine, depending on where you are staying in Tulum as well. But this place has much adventure, delicious food and amazing wellness classes all around. So if you stay open for some adventuring, you will find yourself right at home here quickly.

Don’t be afraid to travel out on your own, as I traveled solo when I came here, it highly challenges what you love and what priorities you have for yourself. Wondering around alone is the best way to discover Tulum and discover yourself. You are surrounded by beauty here, amazing people, food and spiritual growth experiences.

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Connect with the Mexican jungle and your Spirit at Azul Nomeolvides ~ Bacalar

I recently spent a full two months in Quintana Roo, Mexico and ended it in Bacalar. Bacalar is an up-and-coming touristic town, 3 hours south of Tulum, along the Bacalar lagoon, also known as the lagoon of seven colors. It stays true to its name, with many different colors of blues and greens and deep cenotes along the rim.

If you plan to visit this soon-to-be popular town in Mexico, there is no better place to stay than at Azul Nomeolvides. These beautiful eco-cabana’s are right on the Bacalar Lagoon, deep inside the Mexican jungle, down a bumpy dirt road, way off the beaten path.

These 6 luxury cabanas are fully operated by solar power and truly allow you to be one with nature. With an outdoor bathroom and no television or high electric items of any kind; this serene stay prizes the connection with its jungle.

Our time spent here was truly tranquil. We woke up each morning to the sounds of the birds and walked out onto our private patio to read our books, facing the magnificent view of the Bacalar lagoon, listening to its soft waves.

Azul Nomeolvides is just fifteen minutes from the town of Bacalar. Delicious Mexican food and activities are not far away. Although at this unique spot, kayaks are included for you to use during your stay and you can launch them off right in front of your cabana.

Another perk within staying in this beautiful spot is they provide their own organic sunscreen, aloe vera, lotion, bug repellent, hand soap, body soap and shampoo. So if you plan to come to stay here, no need to fill your baggage up with these goods, and they smell like coconut!

There is also a little kitchen with the sweetest staff and a small yet delicious menu for breakfast, lunch, dinner, cocktails, beer and wineYou can choose to take your meal to your room or eat it in the small dining area, surrounded by books and games and two sweet dogs of the owners, Clementina and Tabatha!

Nothing could top the sound of the Mexican jungle in the night, it was the most perfect sound to fall asleep to each night. We were lucky enough to catch a few thunderstorms that we had prime seating to, as the entire front half of the cabana is all windows.

Staying here is like making a whole new home away from home on the beautiful lagoon of seven colors in Bacalar, MX that was difficult to leave and I highly recommend it to anyone who plans to visit this beautiful town of Bacalar.

Click here to book your stay here.

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Emotional Release New Moon Ritual

Happy New Moon beautiful souls! The new moon is a time that calls for renewal and new intentions. As the moon retracts its energy inward, our energy turns inward as well. It allows us to ask the most important questions, “what do I desire and what is in my way?”

When we are in alignment with the lunar phases, we feel this inward energy and spend time for reflection to set an intention for the lunar phases ahead. Yet, I’ve found if we are not in tune with the lunar cycles, we can find ourselves lost during this phase. Feeling extra emotional and like our lives are falling apart. This is why it’s very important to stay connected and ground during this time.

The moon is the connector of our energy, it grounds us to Earth, to ourselves and to the Universal energy beyond. The new moon is the perfect time to set an intention as to how to what we desire, what we are releasing and it allows us to manifest these desires with flow and with the energetic pulse of the moon.

I’ve found a ceremony or ritual is the best way to ground this energy and set strong intentions for the phases ahead and today I’m going to guide you through an emotion release new moon ritual.

What you will need for this ritual :

A comfortable place where you can be undisturbed

Sage and a flame

A Journal + pencil

Spiritual tools to set the aura such as incense, candles, sound frequencies are not necessary but can help create a positive auric field

First, sage your space with sage smoke. I recommend saying the entire home to release negative energies to begin anew on this new moon. Negative energy likes to linger in spaces that go unnoticed, with low air flow and dark spaces.

THE MEDITATION –

Sit down somewhere where you can be undisturbed and take some time to center your mind and release it from anything that has come across your day. Focus on your breathing and center your attention on the space between your two eyebrows (the third eye chakra), as this gets you into a meditative state faster. 

Once you feel you’ve released your racing thoughts, now start to visualize the life that you desire. For this, you can get as detailed as you’d like or as simple as you’d like, as long as you feel emotion behind the vision and a drive to accomplish it. Have fun with this and take your time, remembering to stay in a meditative state and keeping your mind focused on this vision.

THE JOURNALING –

Once you feel happy with this vision. Open your eyes and journal all the things that you must accomplish in order to achieve this vision. You can be strategic and creative, these should be actionable steps. 

After this, on a seperate piece of paper, write out all the things that you must RELEASE in order to achieve your vision. Whether it be bad habits, toxic relationships, ect.

When you are finished, you may burn this paper, tear it in a million pieces or whatever suits your emotional needs to destroy these negative habits in the way of your vision.

CLOSING MEDITATION –

Now, close your eyes, focus on the center of the forehead and focus on your breath. As you breathe in, imagine breathing in all of the positive aspects of your vision, all the things that light you up about your dreams.

As you breathe out, imagine your body is releasing the negative aspects you wrote down that are in the way of that vision.

Continue to do this until you feel completely restored with positive energy and have released the toxic behaviors that were previously in your way. 

I hope you enjoyed this ritual and I have actually created a free Manifesting with the Moon 101 Guide so you can take the energy of the new moon beyond just this phase for aligning your manifestations with the lunar phases. You can get this free workbook here.

You can also dive deeper inside my Moon Manifestation Course and learn to manifest your desires with flow in the lunar phases. Check out MMC here!

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How the moon affects us | A simple guide

Moon Sunset

It’s easy to get lost in all sorts of research and techniques as to how the moon affects our energetic beings. Something I dive deep into inside my Moon Manifestation Course. But you would be surprised how much you can understand the lunar phases by having knowledge of some core simple things about the moon.

First of all, the moon is one of the planets that a zodiac can also be ruled by, along with all the other planets, each with their own energetic meanings. The moon, in particular, relates to your emotions. So a zodiac that is ruled by the moon, such as a Cancer, can be a really emotional sign.

So as the moon effects our emotions, wherever the moon shows up on your natal chart, it will relate to your emotions. Everything going on in the cosmos and how other planets are aligned with the moon, will affect our emotions in that coordinating way. So if you would like to dive deeper into exactly how the moon effects your emotions, specific to your zodiac, you can do some research or have a reading of your own to discover this. I personally recommend The Chariot, they do online readings as well via Zoom.

But to make this a lot more simple, I like to relate the moon as an energetic pull from our own energetic being. So when the moon is new (all black) this is a time where we may have less energy, and with less energy, we may have a nostalgic feel of wanting to rid yourself of any feelings/behaviors or energies that are not serving you and begin a new phase for transformation.

This is why I begin my Moon Manifestation Course with setting new intentions with the new moon!

As the moon begins to light up, think of the light of the moon being an energetic tug, as during the waxing phases of the moon, our energy is being pulled. This is exactly why this two week time frame is perfect for achieving new goals and intentions that you intended during the new moon. (Exactly what we do inside this four week course – MMC).

If we are aligned with this intention and conscious with the energy of the moon, we can accelerate our manifestations with the energy of the moon and allow in the intuitive guidance along the way. Simply being conscious of this energy is also a way you can sync your cycles with the lunar phases of death and rebirth.

When we hit the full moon, I recommend spending your energy doing things that light you up, things of creativity and passion. If your an artist, paint. If your a writer, write. If your a musician, play music. Ect. This is because our intuitive guidance is heightened, as is our energetic connection to the cosmos. This is also the perfect time to meditate.

This is also a time of reflection, this is due to the heightened effects of the subconscious. The full moon tends to bring the subconscious mind forward. So any feelings or thoughts that you may have laid dormant, will come up during this time. This is because if it is an energy that is out of alignment with our truest selves, the intuition will try to “remind” you that it needs to be addressed and healed.

I believe this is why the night of the full moon is usually a night full of crazy happenings, bad or good… it depends on what’s going on in your subconscious mind.

The next phases of the moon are the waning phases, these phases (the next two weeks) are meant for rest. I recommend spending this time for self love, possibly some more reflection towards the subconscious thoughts and energies that came through on the full moon. Or the goals you set and how far you came with them so that you can intend something new for the upcoming new moon.

These phases are very important… rest is very important. If you feel resistant towards resting and still have an overactive mind that feels guilty for standing still… than this is another indication of energetic misalignment. The rest is particularly important to establish feelings of worthiness for your desires, regardless of the action. And this rest gives an energy of ALLOWING your manifestations to come.

You may find more intuitive downloads coming in during this time, if you allow yourself to rest. Downloads that will open up the doors towards the next intention to manifest throughout the next lunar phases ahead. 🙂

I hope you enjoyed this ritual and I have actually created a free Manifesting with the Moon 101 Guide so you can take the energy of the new moon beyond just this phase for aligning your manifestations with the lunar phases. You can get this free workbook here.

Interested in joining my Moon Manifestation Couse?

In this two week course, following from new moon to full moon. Where you will dive deep into uncovering your subconscious beliefs and blockages to create entirely new truths for your subconscious mind to break through and manifest effortlessly!

You will learn how to harness that power of the indisputable Laws of the Universe, using these laws to work in your favor effortlessly. Tune into the energy of abundance, certainty and defeat the ego to to uncover your LIMITLESS energetic being.

Enroll Here