Meditative Monday: Butterfly Sanctuary

Greetings Peace-lovers! And welcome to a new blog series right here at The Peaceful Bohemian!

How many of you meditate? If you've never done it, have you ever wondered about it?

For years, I had the wrong idea about meditation... I thought it was this new-agey, "woo-woo" thing to do where you had to chant mantras and levitate off the ground or something... not my jive at all! (No doubt there are many who do this!)

Then I discovered the world of guided meditations, sleep talkdowns, long-play nature recordings, binaural beats, and ASMR. And as a result, I am now sleeping better than I ever have in my life... I'm falling asleep quickly and staying asleep with less random waking during the night. My anxiety levels have dropped. My depression has improved. I never realized before, how over-active my brain actually is, and how hard it is to just Turn. It. Off!!!

I came to realize that meditation can be done by anyone, of any religion (or no religion at all), and from any walk of life. So in this series, I am going to share some of my favorite meditations, relaxing music, and sleep talkdowns with you all. My hope is to persuade you to enter a new world within your mind... a calming, safe atmosphere that you can take refuge in when life gets too overwhelming.

Photo by Uwimana Hannah, copyright The Peaceful Bohemian

My favorite meditations are ones that use words and visualizations to create a soothing, safe space to imagine yourself away from the stress in your life. The guided meditation that I am going to share with you today is just that: a peaceful greenhouse, where you can lie back and enjoy the myriad of beautiful butterflies as they flit and swoop around you.

Many guided meditations, and sleep talkdowns in particular, will walk you through the process of preparing yourself for sleep. But some do not, so here are some hints: choose a place free from distractions like cell phones, etc. (unless of course you are using your phone to listen!) I like to lie down on my bed or couch, or even a yoga mat, because lying down seems to automatically relax me and help me to concentrate. I like to put on some comfortable clothing, pajamas or lounging clothes, or whatever you wear to be most comfortable. (Even nothing, if that helps put you in a relaxed state of being.) And I take off any jewelry that I find tight or distracted, like chunky necklaces, tight or irritating watches or rings, and tight ponytails. Take a few slow, deep breaths before you begin... it's almost impossible to breathe slowly and deeply and still be anxious!

Photo copyright The Peaceful Bohemian

Are you ready to begin the most relaxing journey that you've ever been on? Then allow me to introduce you to the very first guided meditation that I ever listened to: one of my personal favorites, "The Butterfly Sanctuary" by Jason Stephenson.

If you enjoyed this meditation, remember to check out Jason Stephenson's YOUTUBE CHANNEL... he has many more guided meditations like this! And I will be sharing more of them here as well.

Until next time Beautiful Souls... love, light, and peace!  

D.I.Y. Glass Bottle Centerpiece

Hello beautiful people!

Here's hoping you're all fine and groovy in your part of the world!

We've been in the middle of a bummer blizzard for the part three days, and I do mean bummer... as in, business closures, road closures, accidents, and shoveling... lots and lots and lots of shoveling. The snow is literally over my head in some places out there!

So what does a boho hippie chick do when she's trapped inside? Create beauty, what else! This little springtime-themed centerpiece is the perfect contrast to the gloom outside, and it's SO easy to make! I completed it in a about an hour once I had all my supplies on hand!

Here's what you'll need to recreate this beauty.

1. A clear glass bottle (I used a clean Jones Soda bottle... I love Jones because they are made with cane sugar instead of refined white sugar, and they come in glass bottles instead of plastic!)

2. A sheet of scrapbook paper or decorative paper in the pattern of your choice (the more colorful the better in my books!)

3. Scissors

4. A ruler

5. Wire cutters/snippers

6. Glue

7. Goo-gone or any "sticky" remover

8. Raffia/twine/yarn/something to tie a bow with.

9. Any other decorations you decide to use.

Making your centerpiece is easy! Just use your ruler to measure and cut a strip of paper approximately the same size as the bottle's label would be. It's okay for the edges of your paper to overlap a little; you want at least a centimeter of overlap to allow you to glue the two ends of the paper together. I didn't even bother to use Goo-gone to remove the glue remnants from the label... it just helped to stick my new "label" in place!

You can decorate the bottle any way you want... use glass paint to change the color of your bottle! Use the raffia/twine to tie a bow, like I did. Or, glue sequins, buttons, or beads onto the "label" or the bottle itself.

Then, you can fill your bottle.... use artificial flowers like I did (this is February, after all!), or use real ones if the season is right. You can also fill the jar with wheat or barley stalks for a more country look.

I just bought some cute fake flowers at the dollar store (you could try making some from fabric or tissue paper) and cut them apart with the wire snips (don't use regular craft scissors as you will dull the blades). I had to cut the stems apart because they were too thick to fit into the mouth of the bottle and made the arrangement too crowded. I also pulled the thick leaves off the "tulip" for the same reason... too much foliage and not enough space!

I hope you like this cute "hippie" centerpiece... let me know in the comments below if you decide to make it!

Love and Peace!

What Is Depression?

Depression is not just sadness.

Depression is not just walking around with a frown on your face and a grey cloud over your head.

Depression is not just being mopey and gloomy.

Depression is feeling defeat when you try again and again to change your situation, only to end up right back at the beginning again.

Depression is anger because you feel trapped in a glass jar, and no matter how you batter against the walls, they won't crack.

Depression is fear that things will always stay the same, that things will never get any better.

Depression is frustration that all your attempts to "get better" aren't working.

Depression is guilt, because so many people "have it worse than you", but you can't seem to trivialize how you feel enough to make it not matter.

Depression is comedy and drama, in an attempt to hide your true feelings.

Depression is rising to your knees one day, then your feet the next, and then getting slammed flat on your back the third.

Depression is finding methods to escape the feelings so you don't have to face them.

Depression is dwelling on your feelings and allowing them to drown you.

Depression is when you feel like screaming and smashing your head into a wall, but you smile brightly and comment on the weather.

Depression is when your tears rise up in your throat and strangle you because you can't or won't let them out.

Depression is crying for no reason at all.

Depression is not wanting to cry because it would be pointless anyways.

Depression is your emotions all out of whack, responding inappropriately to situations, or wondering why your head can't make sense of things for ONCE.

Depression is feeling like there is no escape... that the darkness that encloses you will eventually consume you.

Depression is wondering if you did something to cause the darkness.

Depression is wondering if you deserve the darkness.

Depression is wondering if you are the darkness.

Depression is hiding from those you love, to keep from "infecting" them.

Depression is feeling exhausted all day, but unable to sleep at night.

Depression is feeling like you're on a hamster wheel... running and running yet staying in one spot.

Depression is mood swings for no reason.

Depression is wishing you could just give up but knowing you can't.

Depression is veiling your emotions from people, then getting angry when they are unsympathetic.

Depression is being upset about your inability to just "snap out of it."

Depression is helping others, but being unable to help yourself.

Depression is believing that you don't deserve help.

Depression is believing that you don't even need help.

Depression is the inability to see that there is help.

Depression is pride that will not allow others to see you vulnerable.

Depression is afraid of the hurtful remarks that inevitably come.

Depression is not a word that you throw around when you feel misunderstood and want to give someone a guilt trip.

Depression is something that you hide from your most intimate friends.

Depression is listening to people talk about "rose-colored glasses" and wishing you had a pair.

Depression is not an attitude.

Depression is an illness.

And like any illness, depression has to be understood before it can be helped.

Please educate yourself.

www.DepressionHurts.ca

5 Ways to Fight Winter Depression

Yes, I know it's still September and no one wants to think about winter yet. But, whatever you call it (Winter depression, winter blues, seasonal depression, seasonal affective disorder, etc.), it affects a huge percentage of people, including myself. And in this post, I want to explain some things that I do to combat it.

Let me start off by saying, this post is not intended to take the place of the opinions of a health care professional. They may recommend light therapy, medication (there's no shame in needing medication to keep yourself in tip-top condition!) or something else. I'm just sharing what has worked best for me when the autumn blahs set in.

#1. Festival lights

Who says colored lights are just for Christmas? Not me! Colorful strings of lights give your home a bright, cozy atmosphere, and they're so easy to put up! Drape them over doorways, wind them around windows, or loop them along walls. They're so pretty, and they add a splash of color that illuminates even the most depressing space all year 'round!

#2. Indoor plants

One of the things I crave the most in the winter is the sight, smell, and feel of green, growing things. When the trees are bare and the ground white, turn your gaze inwards and cultivate some houseplants. Pick something easy to start with. Snake plant is one you see growing a lot in banks and offices, because it can thrive 'most anywhere! Ficus' are tough, hardy, and difficult to kill if you have less than a green thumb. Christmas cactus is lovely because it blooms in the middle of winter! Plus it doesn't take much watering. Spider plants are also easy to care for, and because they propagate themselves, they're great for sharing!

Pictured here is Happiness, which is what I've named my Anthurium. They're also relatively easy to grow.

As you gain experience in the care of your houseplants, you may want to try something a little more complicated, like succulents, orchids, or even elephant ears!

Plants make good companions. Name them, talk to them, play music for them... you may find yourself getting quite attached to them!

#3. Sounds of Nature

Two years ago, I lived a basement apartment with exactly two windows. They were both located above my head, so I looked at blank walls all day. When I stretched on tiptoe to look out, all I saw was a wooden deck and people's feet walking past. To add insult to injury, the walls were all painted grey. (What a bummer color. Who in their right mind paints a place grey? My apologies to anyone who likes grey but really, unless you're going for the "hospital" look, I can't see how anyone finds it attractive.)

Needless to say, that winter was easily the most depressing for me. That is, until I discovered the eighth wonder of the internet world. (I'm not sure what the other seven are... if you know, please tell me.)

I discovered... long-play nature tracks. And, speaking honestly, they helped me regain my sanity. I constantly surrounded myself with the sounds of lapping waves, birdsong, softly pattering rain, thunderstorms, leaves rustling in the wind, crickets... I could close my eyes and feel summer.

I found that these long-play videos, playing in the background while I was reading, writing, cleaning, or just relaxing, made me less stressed and more hopeful. It was company for me on those long, dark, quiet nights. I also find that listening to nature sounds all night helps me get a more restful sleep.

I plan on sharing some of my favorite relaxing and sleep tracks with you all, so keep your eyes open for those! And here's one of my favorites for you all. It was recorded in Thailand, and features 8 solid hours of a hot spring; water splashing, tricking, and bubbling, exotic birds calling... and you may even hear someone whistling or humming as they pass by! There are different "locations" to enjoy, with a variety of scenes and sounds, so it never gets boring! I personally wouldn't recommend this one for sleep, as it can get quite "watery" and loud at points, but it's perfect for playing during the day.

   

#4. Cooking

This one may come as a surprise, but cooking can be very therapeutic. It's healthier than staying curled up in bed and eating noodle soup and potato chips, which is probably what you'll end up doing a lot of when the winter blues kick in. Cooking requires you to get up, get dressed, and go out shopping for ingredients. Pick some fresh veggies and fruits, because eating healthy will help boost your mood!

Experiment with different ingredients, and don't forget to splurge on a little treat for yourself! Then come home, get into your pajamas if that makes you feel more comfortable, and play around. Don't worry if you screw up, just remember to be mindful and don't forget the stove on or lose track of what you're doing. And when you sit down to a hot, hearty bowl of soup or some chicken and dumplings, you'll feel really groovy that you got something accomplished!

#5. Get outside!

This might be the last thing you feel like doing, but really, a breathe of fresh air will do you a world of good. If you're limited in your ability to go out, just stand outside your door for a few minutes, or even open the window for a blast of clean air. It will get your cheeks glowing and make the warmth indoors even cozier and more inviting! Obviously, don't feel you have to go out in a blizzard... but on those calm, not-too-cold nights when snow is drifting down in clumps, go out. Stand under a streetlight and watch the snowflakes whirl around like butterflies. Catch them on your tongue. Let them fall onto your mittens, and admire their pretty shapes. Blow a handful of them into the air. Make a snowball, or, if the snow isn't sticky enough, just scrunch it in your hands and listen to the sounds it makes. Make a trail of footprints. Get a stick and write your name in the snow. Make a snowperson. Make a snow angel. Just lie down in it and relax. Enjoy it like a child; after all, we are all just children of the same world!

What are your thoughts? How do you fight off the winter blahs? Feel free to comment below!

Don't Hold Back Your Hippie

I know that, with the creation of this blog, people are asking themselves, "Why hippie? Of all the things she could have chosen, why that?"

The answer is, I didn't wake up one morning and say, "Fudge this, I'm gonna be a hippie." It goes much deeper than that.

See, people have certain preconceived notions about hippies. Maybe that they were all drug users, or that all they ever did was have sex, or that they were lazy, or one of a dozen other ideas. But what is I were to tell you that there is a little hippie in all of us?

Wikimedia Commons image

There is a fascination with hippies these days; some derogatory, some positive (though misinformed). Do an internet search for, "How to be a hippie" and you will find thousands of websites, Wikihow articles, Pinterest pages, Youtube videos; everything from satire to seriousness. How to dress, how to style your hair (or not style it), what to eat, where to shop, what music to listen to.

What people fail to realize, is that being a hippie means just being yourself. You don't HAVE to grow your hair long or go barefoot or listen to Jimi Hendrix unless you really want to. If tie-dye is not your thing, don't wear it. If you want to be vegetarian, that's your choice. If you want to eat meat, that's your choice too. The hippie ideal is to be anti-conformity and anti-establishment. That means NOT doing what the vast majority is doing. But of course, if you happen to enjoy something that the vast majority also enjoys doing, do it! You have to be yourself.

For me, I enjoy hippie/boho style because it gives me a sense of freedom. I don't wake up in the morning devastated because my hair is squished on one side and won't straighten out. I don't pack makeup on to hide what I see as imperfections. I don't worry about my clothing being perfectly pressed or pulled together. I don't even worry about matching colors a lot of the time. I wear what I want to wear, what looks good to me, not what's necessarily in style.

At the same time, I find a festival/flower child look appeals to me. I love bright colors. I love long hair. I love tribal prints, handmade beads, and flower crowns. I love bare feet and loose, flowing skirts. I love wood and leather and turquoise and tie-dye and peace signs. This is who I am. Why would I try to hide it? For that matter, why would anyone try to hide who they are?

For me, the clothes I wear represent what my heart is on the inside. When I dress like I just stepped out of Vogue, I find I constantly worry. "Is this wrinkled? Is this straight? Is too much of this showing? WHY doesn't this match?!" When I dress like I just arrived from Woodstock, I feel happy. I feel free. Let it be wrinkled.... let it show... let it be a crazy mix of colors... let it be weird enough that people turn around to stare at me when I walk down the street.

It's liberating.

Maybe you're thinking, "Well, that doesn't apply to me. I have a certain style that I wear, and that's it."

Do you hear me? You do you! Yes, you are a hippie. Do you care about the environment? Do you care about animals? Do you enjoy music? Are you spiritual? Do you love spending time in nature? Do other people's opinions not matter to you? Do you believe in a world where love and peace are possible, and where hate and war are distant memories? If you are any of those things, than you are a hippie... the purest ideal of one. You are yourself.

Don't hide your inner hippie. Don't hold it back, smother it, strangle it, ignore it, pass it off as something else, or be ashamed of it. Let your flag fly.

We are the beautiful people.

We are the Hippies.

A Craving for Color

There are a few things in this world, that we humans cannot live without. Oxygen is one. Water is another. Love and close human contact.... definitely. But there is one other thing that this boho girl can't live without...

Color.

Ever since I was a child, I sensed that colors have deep emotional meanings. Certain colors made me feel certain ways. I change the desktop background on my computer, not according to what pictures I like, but according to what their color schemes are. Greens make me feel sleepy and safe (how I feel in nature). Blues make me feel awake and refreshed. Orange makes me feel happy and over-excited. Dark reds make me feel exotic, but bright reds get exhausting after a while. Yellow in any shade makes me angry, irritated, and annoyed. Purples make me feel calm and thoughtful. I don't like a lot of black, but touches of it make me feel strong and confident. White can be calming in conjunction with other colors, but by itself, it makes me feel numb. And grey makes me feel hopeless, defeated, and dead on the inside. I hate grey.

For years, I think I baffled my parents. Everything was "not colorful enough." Forget themes and matching shades... I want a rainbow of bright colors surrounding me all the time. If I walk into a room that's filled with vibrant colors, I immediately take a deep breath, as if to absorb the energy. Colors make me come alive in a way that's hard to describe.

Which is why, when I first discovered bohemian style, and found out that there were other people exactly like me, I almost cried. I had always liked Victorian style decorating, but detested the dark colors and austere fixtures that seemed too stiff, formal, and stuffy. But when I started looking at pictures like the one below... I laughed out loud and realized that I'd just found a piece of my soul.

And that is how this blog got started. I've been blogging for quite a while actually... about my personal life, my church involvement, and mostly my sponsored children. But this blog is a place for my hippie soul to call home. A place for peace-loving, colorful, snowflake children to laugh, and think deeply, and embrace themselves. I plan to share items out of my boho closet, some natural beauty tips, travel stories and adventures, lots of good music, spirituality, good vibes and positivity, and, of course, color... maybe even some D.I.Y. projects.

I also plan to write about my journey to embracing myself as an INFJ HSP empathic boho hippie anti-conformist with anxiety, depression, and other things that simply make me, me.

So for those of you just joining me on this journey, welcome. For those of you who are new readers, welcome. For those of you already familiar with my writings, welcome. For the hippies, the bohemians, the wanderers, the lonely, the beautiful, the seeking, the flower children, the colorful, the beatniks, the free spirits, the artists, the freaks, the loners, the oddballs, and the visionaries.... welcome. Welcome to your tribe, your village, your own personal Woodstock.

Welcome home. And let the peaceful revolution begin.