The Bohemian Collective

WE HAVE MOVED

noreply@blogger.com (Roots and Feathers) — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 21:52:00 +0000

Hello sweet Bohemian Collective followers! I'm excited to let you know we have moved to a new home. I needed to create a space I could balance my personal blog with this blog better, so I have switched it over to the same platform as my other one. One amazing perk about that is the new layout! It is so much easier to navigate and see all of the old lookbooks and more. I kept as much of Kelly Ann's amazing design work as possible, so the feel of the new space is still very similar, so you should feel right at home!

I will be switching over all of the bloglovin' followers automatically, however, if you follow via google friend connect or anything else, you will need to re-subscribe to view the posts in your feed. Let us know if you have any trouble doing so. I hope to see each of you over in our new space. I am anticipating alot of wonderful things to come, and Im about to release a new lookbook in the next few days! Fun stuff!

Much love,

Laura

WANDERLUST // WILD RANGES

noreply@blogger.com (Roots and Feathers) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:45:00 +0000

I have a strong penchant for wanderlust. My travels started at an early age and I am comfortable with packing the car and hitting the road. This set of locations is dedicated to my love for wild mountains, icy blue lakes, tall forests and a backpack. Here are some spots I have been, and places I'd like to go still.

Lake Louise, Canada

Jackson Lake, Jackson Hole Wyoming
Photo by David Killpack

Glacier National Park, Montana

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Zion National Park, Utah

Yellowstone Falls, Wyoming

Multnomah Falls, Oregon

Beartooth Highway, Montana

Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado

By car, by foot - where are some of your favorite wild spots to find solace?

Visit Betsy online via facebook // etsy shop

Happy Wanderlusting,

Besty of The Bohemian Collective

MAGICAL EVOLUTION OF CONCIOUSNESS

noreply@blogger.com (Roots and Feathers) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 14:28:00 +0000

a bit of inspiration from my pinterest board.

PEACE AND LOVE,

Laura of The Bohemian Collective

IMAJAGHAN

noreply@blogger.com (Roots and Feathers) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 15:19:00 +0000

Such a beautiful expression of art and self. Just had to share.

PEACE AND LOVE,
Laura of The Bohemian Collective

PINSPIRATION // PASTEL DESERT

noreply@blogger.com (Roots and Feathers) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 16:04:00 +0000

Today's pinspiration is inspired by the beautiful thunderbird necklace by Specked Feather that was featured in the latest mini lookbook. Im completely in love with the entire outfit below the necklace image, and I think her thunderbird would be the perfect final touch. This feminine earthy color palette is so calming to me. I love how colors can evoke such a core feeling inside, so powerful. You can view the rest of these images and more on my pinterest.

PEACE AND LOVE,

Laura of The Bohemian Collective

AZTEC DREAMS // MINI LOOKBOOK

noreply@blogger.com (Roots and Feathers) — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 20:07:00 +0000

Introducing the first of The Bohemian Collective's Mini Lookbook series! Alot like our normal large lookbooks, but this time with just one look. Aztec Dreams is inspired by the fun mixing of print on print, the dusty southwest and an earthy palette. Browse through more images of the look below.

The Contributors:

Flying Tomato

Tatiana's Threads

Lulu's.com

Speckled Feather Boutique

Spiral Drift

Blowfish Malibu

PEACE AND LOVE,
Laura of The Bohemian Collective

MINI LOOKBOOK SNEAK PEEK

noreply@blogger.com (Roots and Feathers) — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 16:58:00 +0000

Just a little sneak peek of the new mini lookbook being released tomorrow! It will be the first of our 'mini' series, a one look collection of images. Check back tomorrow for the full thing!

PEACE AND LOVE,

Laura of The Bohemian Collective

LUNAR ANIMALS // GREY WHALE

noreply@blogger.com (Roots and Feathers) — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 18:14:00 +0000

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Simply speaking, the medicine wheel is the symbol and teaching of the natural world in Native traditions. It is a circle, or wheel, symbolizing the elements of the earth (earth, fire, water, air), seasons, time, moon phases, and the cyclical nature of Mother Earth. It is our compass and guide to walking this life, revealing each season's teachings as the time comes. Currently, we are in the North direction of Winter, earth medicine, a time of hibernation, endurance, and home life.

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During the Winter, while I am complaining of the cold, layering and stocking up on scarves, sweaters and blankets, I can easily forget what's going on in the natural world around me. And then I am reminded by the perseverance and power of the Gray Whale. During the cold winter months, the Gray Whales migrate 7,000 miles from Alaska to Baja, California, and long the Pacific coast of the US, to birth their babies in warmer waters. Once the babies are born, the whales with their babies in tow make the 7,000 mile trek once again to Alaska where the feed and raise their young. Overall, it is a 14,000 mile migration and one of the largest in the world. I am blessed to live in Southern California and have the opportunity to watch and witness this phenomena in action.

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So thank you, Gray Whale, for reminding me to stop complaining-- after all I cannot and do not have to swim 7,000 miles, let alone, walk 5 miles in one day. Thank you for reminding me to move my body in the winter months-- my body is more capable than I ever give it credit for. Thank you for honoring your natural rhythms, as the moon pulls the waters you live in. I am in awe of your steady power and endurance.

To learn more and donate to help these magnificent creatures go here.

Guest post by Moondaughter.

blog // shop // facebook

NATURAL HAND BUTTER DIY BY KATE BELLO

noreply@blogger.com (Roots and Feathers) — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 16:01:00 +0000

Summer is still a ways away, but this simple yet potent hand butter will bring some brightness to these cold winter months. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has to combat dry skin during this time of the year so I decided to mix some of my favorite oils together to create a deep moisturizing butter. It’s very simple to make and can be done in about five minutes. I use this mainly on my hands, but I also sometimes use it on my face and body as well.

My go-to oil for winter is unrefined organic coconut oil and is extremely moisturizing. I personally like it during this time of year because it stays in a solid form while it’s cold out. Since I don’t like things too complicated and more importantly, in their purest form, coconut oil is the best because it’s easy to whip up into a soft body butter with having to heat it.

Carrot seed oil has the most enticing smell and is really beneficial for anti aging (I use it in almost all my facial oils). The aroma of sweet orange essential oil goes perfectly with carrot seed and reminds me of warmer summer days. The secret ingredient in this moisturizer is sea buckthorn oil, which is what actually gives this hand butter its orange color. This oil has many beneficial properties including a high omega fatty acid content which helps rejuvenate damaged skin and protect against wrinkles. I also added pumpkin seed oil, which is also high in omega fatty acids plus vitamins a, c and zinc. And it’s amazingly moisturizing oil. Lastly, I used vitamin e oil to naturally preserve the butter.

You can either create a small batch to be used right away or make a jar full to use for a couple of weeks up to a month. I buy all of my oils from mountainroseherbs.com.

Ingredients:

Unrefinded coconut oil

Carrot seed essential oil

Sweet orange essential oil

Sea buckthorn oil

Pumpkin seed oil

Vitamin E oil

Supplies (if making a larger batch)

If you want to make enough to last you a couple weeks or so, I would buy a little mason jar like the one in the photo. I bought a whole box of them at the local hardware store for about $12.00. I would advise against using a plastic container because many of them can leak harmful chemicals.

Directions:

If you’re going to be keeping this hand butter in a jar, you will first need to sterilize the jar. This is super easy to do! Just bring a pot of water to a boil, place the jar and the lid (unscrewed) into the water so that it’s completely covered. Let it boil for about five minutes and then air dry.

I used about two tablespoons of the coconut oil for this hand butter. Place in a small bowl.

Add just a dash of sea buckthorn oil. Just a word of warning about this oil; because of its orange color it can temporarily stain things so I would stay away from wearing light colored clothes while making this concoction. Also, it may temporarily stain your skin, but absorbs after a couple minutes.

    Add three drops of carrot seed essential oil and two drops of sweet orange essential oil.

    Add ½ teaspoon of pumpkin seed oil and ¼ of vitamin e oil.

    Mix it up in the bowl until it’s the consistency of a body butter.

    Place in the sterilized jar to use up for up to a month.

* This hand butter can liquefy when in warm temperatures so if it happens to be warm where you live at the moment (lucky you!), you can keep it in the fridge so it stays solid.

I really, really love this hand butter because it feels so luxurious! A little bit does go a long way so start out using just a tiny bit at a time. For best results, lightly dampen your skin before applying which will help it absorb better. Like I said earlier, I’ve also tried this as facial moisturizer or body butter and love it. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Guest Post from Kate Bello of Bohemian Kate

blog // twitter // facebook // pinterest

PINSPIRATION // HEALING TO THE BONES

noreply@blogger.com (Roots and Feathers) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 23:55:00 +0000

After many days of resting in bed, with achy bones, and feverish chills... I am awakening to life again. With a slow gentleness. Being sick brings an attention to vulnerability, surrender and desire to be held with great gentleness. This collage above is inspired by that. All images can be found via my pinterest page.

PEACE AND LOVE,

Laura of The Bohemian Collective

ART INSPIRING LIFE

noreply@blogger.com (Roots and Feathers) — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 15:49:00 +0000

After Katelyn's post yesterday on the balance between masculine and feminine, I saw this video, and it expressed to Me the most beautiful balance of this. Having Illan's male presence along side Rachel Brice just added a whole new layer to the experience of watching her. And seeing the feminine come through this amazing male body is a mesmerizing thing to watch. I so love seeing men embrace this in themselves.

To kind of echo what Katelyn already said, I have always had this deep understanding of the balance that goes on in this world. This world can only survive with this balance. Down to the true realization that all death is followed by a birth of some kind. Many of these deaths, whether it be a person you loved, or a plant that is going back to the earth in the winter time, we have no say in. It is just the natural course. But then there are deaths that we do have influence over. These are some of the kinds of death I am cultivating in my life right now. Things I need to allow to be released from my core, laid into the earth to rest, blessed for all of its teachings while it was here, and then allow the seed to grow into a new kind of life. For example, these can be actual relationships we have that only make us feel heavy, or it can be as simple as an art project that just isnt coming out or an old behavior that we do on auto pilot that needs to be redirected.

As we cultivate the things we want in our lives for this new year ahead of us, allow yourself to see the things that need to be released. And let them go. Truly let them go. And see where you can give them gratitude. See why these things were planted in your life to help you or guide you. Know that what you are releasing is only making room for something so much bigger. After digging that old plant up, tend the soil before sowing new seeds, and really give light to the kind of seeds you want to plant. What do you want to be growing in your garden of life come summer? (I am writing this for myself as much as anyone else.)

PEACE AND LOVE,

Laura of The Bohemian Collective

BALANCING // MASCULINE AND FEMININE

noreply@blogger.com (Roots and Feathers) — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 14:04:00 +0000

You'll hear me go on and on about the Divine Feminine and all her magical wonder, but I will admit, I do leave the masculine aspect on the sidelines. I acknowledge it but hold the feminine power higher, ever so slightly, subconsciously. This is the opposite of the societal views of today. And neither one is right or in line with what we need.

Today at a Goddess Dance ceremony I was a part of, there was a male presence. He joined in the dance and completely embodied the power of the divine feminine. He also brought it a different dynamic, the dynamic of masculine, honoring the feminine. And in turned this brought an energy to each one of the women there, to honor the masculine.

There can't be one without the other.

Balance.

Within each of us resides the qualities of the masculine and feminine divine. Our genitalia is only an outwardly expression. It helps us to break the barriers between us , to see past our bodies to encompass all of who we are, as individuals, as a community, as a collective. It gives us something to challenge our egos. Once we realize that we are one, the possibilities are endless.

Mother/father. Shadow/light. Fire/water. Hot/cold.

We hold them all. They are all inside of us. We need the healers and the protectors. We need the wisdom and the emotion. We need the warrior and the warrioress.

Gods and Goddesses.

Align and support.

PEACE AND LOVE,

Katelyn of The Bohemian Collective

FLYING TOMATO // GET HER LOOK

noreply@blogger.com (Roots and Feathers) — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 14:14:00 +0000

I'm honored that after releasing this outfit post on my blog, Flying Tomato asked me to be their first GET HER LOOK girl! So so exciting! So Roots and Feathers and Gypsies Caravan got to be featured together in this spread. If you want to see the whole spread large, check out their site.

I'm pretty in love with Flying Tomato's clothing. And I'm super excited they will be a part of our first very own 'get the look' series coming this month. Can't wait to share with you guys! It will be like a mix between our big fancy lookbooks and an outfit post. A one look feature.

Now... go get lost in Flying Tomato's magical land of clothing...

PEACE AND LOVE,

Laura of The Bohemian Collective

THE LITTLE SOUL AND THE SUN

noreply@blogger.com (Roots and Feathers) — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 19:07:00 +0000

I just had to share this video from Erica Herbert. A must see. Please watch. It has opened my heart sooooo much, and I think it will for anyone who watches it. A gift from an angel.

PEACE AND LOVE,

Laura of The Bohemian Collective

SEASONAL WREATHS

noreply@blogger.com (Roots and Feathers) — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 14:39:00 +0000

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Wreaths are beautifully festive, not just for the holidays, but for all seasons. As I'm taking time to rearrange, clean and welcome a new year, I'm looking for ways to keep things simple and inviting. Here are some inspirations for nature wreaths. I am particularly fond of herb wreaths, which are both decorative and functional, a way to bring a piece of nature inside.

Do It Yourself Herb Wreath by Made By Girl

Fresh Herb Wreath by A Pretty Life in the Suburbs

DIY Mini Wreaths on Free People Blog

Winter Wreath by Blueberry

Herb Wreath by Just Our Lovely Life

Christmas Wreath by Fig and Fauna

What are some of your favorite things to use to make your space beautiful?

PEACE AND LOVE,

Betsy of The Bohemian Collective

LUNAR ANIMALS - BEAR MEDICINE

noreply@blogger.com (Roots and Feathers) — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 16:31:00 +0000

During the darker half of the year, our spirits tend to turn inward. This is a time of reflection and retreat and energy is low. Allowing yourself Bear Medicine-- hibernation, rest, rejuvenation, stillness, will help you conserve your energy for the warmer, active days ahead. Though there is the hustle and bustle of the holidays, if you give permission to yourself to rest it can do wonders for your spirit and mood. Laura and I compiled these yummy, cozy images encompassing Winter and Grandmother Bear.

So grab a cup of tea, a warm blanket and snuggle up. I hope you have a peaceful and cozy rest of your holidays and a happy new year!

For more images, browse through my Bear Medicine board on Pinterest.

Guest post by Marissa Moondaughter

12.12.12. HEALING TOOLS

noreply@blogger.com (Roots and Feathers) — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 18:25:00 +0000

On 12.12.12 I created this treasury on etsy as a little manifestation of intentions for the year ahead. The shift going on in the world, and in myself is undeniable. Ive felt it coming for a long time, well before I attributed it to the changing of times. It's just been a natural pull from within to cleanse, re-arrange, contemplate my path, dig deeper, and prepare for new ways. It's been a long, slow process, and one that is well away from being complete. In actuality, will never be complete. This is only another beginning. My choices above are things that speak to my heart during this time. A few healing tools, a few metaphorical items, and some very very personal healing issues going on within me. This is most definitely a wishlist of sorts, but even if I never actually hold any of these pieces in my hand, they are all things that are going on within me regardless.

In a short synopsis these items to me represent my healing path with grief, loss, depression, sexual issues, fertility, balance, love, moon flow and my general purposes between the earth, the spirit and myself. This is my path that I am unfolding. I am choosing to walk through it with intention, gentleness and an open heart for learning as I go. A constant student and gardener in this life of mine.

PEACE AND LOVE,

Laura of The Bohemian Collective

DIY MACRAME HANGING PLANTER BY CHRISTI JAY

noreply@blogger.com (Roots and Feathers) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 15:24:00 +0000

There's nothing I love more than handmade gifts, giving them as well as getting them. There's something so much more personal about it, pour your love into a hand crafted item and it will show! If that weren't enough, the double whammy of knowing you can save money AND relieve stress through the meditative process of creating gives you plenty of reasons to try some handmade projects this holiday season.

This D.I.Y is incredibly low-tech, using the ancient art of macrame in the simplest form. I've provided the bare bones of how to make a plant hanger with just a ball of yarn and a small metal ring. You can get much more creative with this, adding some wood beads, dip dyeing it, or tying little charms to the tassel at the end to personalize. No matter what you decide to do, you'll be creating a one of a kind gift and providing your loved ones the multitude of health benefits that come with having plants indoors. Enjoy!

visit christi jay via her blog // shop // facebook // tumbler

PEACE AND LOVE,

Christi Jay of The Bohemian Collective

THE BOHEMIAN COLLECTIVE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

noreply@blogger.com (Roots and Feathers) — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 17:09:00 +0000

1. skyline fever // moon crop top

2. bird trouble // native bird pouch

3. gypsy lane // gold nose ring

4. sun & glory // macrame necklace

5. harvest girl // dashiki scarf

6. tzunuum // colorful rope bracelet

7. gypsies caravan // wooden feather guage

8. laurel hill // crescent necklace

9. spirit y sol // feathered medicine bag

10. run with the tribe // antler necklace

11. obella organics // hemp headwrap

12. lulus.com // floral backpack

13. christi jay // fringed purse

14. sea of wild // dreamcatcher necklace

15. jade stone // crescent necklace

16. raintower // moon tee

17. cosmic bath & beauty // handmade soap

18. iconoclasp // galaxy velvet bell bottoms

19. roots & feathers // doily dreamcatcher

20. primal arts hawaii // tie dye tank

21. lost boys & lovers // leather harness

22. blowfish shoes // tugo booties

23. spiral drift // moon necklace

after putting together this amazing group of items, i realized i left off one of the prettiest things on the list!! this gorgeous vintage sweater cape from lune vintage.

support handmade and small business this holiday season! and if you have already done all of your shopping for this season, maybe some of these would make good gifts for yourself! everyone needs to give them self a little something from time to time. these are just some of my favorites from all of the artists. take time to browse through their shops b/c they all have truly inspiring unique work. its an honor to have them here.

PEACE AND LOVE,

Laura of The Bohemian Collective

INNER CHANGE

noreply@blogger.com (Roots and Feathers) — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 03:37:00 +0000

image source

I came across this image on Pinterest a while back, and it keeps re-inspiring my mind. Such a simple statement, that most of us simply know already in our minds... but one that can be so easily forgotten. I'm going to keep this in the forefront of my mind while working on some changes in my own life I am wanting to create.

PEACE AND LOVE,

Laura of The Bohemian Collective

LUNAR ANIMALS - WOLF MEDITATION

noreply@blogger.com (Roots and Feathers) — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 02:31:00 +0000

image source

Do you hear the howling in the woods? Do you feel the stirring in your soul, willing you to follow the call? In the spirit of the Full Moon, let us connect with this howling inside of us yearning to be free. Your Wild Woman within is ready to be set free. Let us seek the Wolf together.

Find a place to sit or lay quietly (under the Full Moon if you can) where you won't be disturbed. Turn off you cell phones (or put on airplane mode if it is your music player) and be here now. You can put some meditation music on as well to set the mood with candles, or better yet, play music with drumming to awaken the wild woman within you. A drumming app I like is the Mindful Bear app. I put it on the Ceremonial Drum, because it is slower and puts me in a meditative state faster.

Now that you are prepared, let us begin...

Close you eyes and focus on your breathing. Notice how you are breathing naturally. Do not judge, just notice. Sit like this for a couple of breaths.

Now starting lowering your breath until you are breathing into your belly; let your belly relax and expand with the inhale, and deflate with the exhale. Breathe in and out of your nose. Keep this kind of breathing for the breath exercise below.

Inhale on 3 counts...one...two...three... Exhale for three...two...one. Do this for 10 breaths.

Now let's slow it down. Inhale...one...two...three...four... Exhale for five...four...three...two...one. Do this 10 times.

Now inhale for one...two...three..four...five...six and exhale for seven...six...five...four...three...two...one. Do this between 5 to 10 times

This ensures complete relaxation and a meditative state. When you are ready begin the guided meditation below:

You are in the middle of a clearing in a forest. It is a crisp, cool, Autumn night; the stars are out, the Full Moon cast a glowing aura across the land. You feel the sacred energy buzzing all around you and you know you are safe and protected and loved.

You hear a howling in the woods. How do you respond to this howling? How does it make you feel? You feel the urge to answer the call. You start heading in that direction towards the forest. The howling continues so you chase it. Feel yourself running through the trees. Feel your feet on the cool, damp soil. Feel the crisp air dancing in your hair. Feel how free you are in this moment, running towards the call. The moon's light is veiled in the thick trees, but you are not led by sight, but by an inner knowing...where do you feel this inner knowing in your body? Place your hand on this area and feel the energy of your inner knowing reawakening.

You start to hear other footprints behind and around you, but they are not like your own. They are padded and four-legged. You realize you are running in your pack. You are not afraid because you know they will not harm you. You are family. You are linked together on a soul level. How many wolves do you see? What do they look like? How do they make you feel? Run and play with them while moving towards the howling drawing you all closer together.

You eventually follow you pack until you reach a cliff. From the cliff you see the Full Moon high in the night sky shining down on thousands upon thousands of acres of forest. Take in this breathtaking view for a moment.

Your attention is then drawn to the pack looking to a set of huge rocks along the cliff's path. You see a large shadow sitting there watching you all. You realize this is the leader of your pack and where the howling was coming from. What does your pack leader look like? Is it a male or female? What is their energy feel like? Remember, they do not want to harm you, just to connect with you.

Your leader beckons you closer. You are compelled to stand before them in the moonlight. Your leader gazes upon you gently and patiently. You can now have a dialogue with your leader. Ask them any questions and wait for their answer and listen. It can be a feeling, an image, a voice. Trust your first instinct; inner knowing. And now talk to your leader.

When you feel guided to withdraw, you thank your leader for their time with you and walk back to the pack. You know it is time to collectively howl at the Full Moon as a family. What do you wish to release with this howling? What do you wish to celebrate? What do you wish to manifest? Let these feelings build up inside you... through your root chakra and up through your crown at the top of your head. Let your chakras open and glow in their colors. When you feel ready to release this energy into the universe, howl with your pack! You may even feel the instinct to howl out-loud, and that is okay! Do it if it feels right! Feel yourself opening to the collective energy around you and know you are connected to all other living things. With each howl release your doubts, celebrate your blessings, and howl out your desires. Your pack is supporting you, adding to the energy and manifestation. Howl as long as you feel compelled to.

When you stop howling, your pack stops as well. Feel this energy and silence buzzing around you. Become aware of your senses; your physical sensations, hearing, taste, and smell. Now ground the energy in your body. Imagine a bright shimmering light pouring down the top of your head, down your spine and all the way down into your feet. What color is the light? Send the energy from your feet into the Earth, soaking it deep down into its roots. You hear the padded paw-prints trot away, and you know it is time to go and the pack is retreating back into the woods.

You look down at your feet and you see your leader has left you a gift. What is it? You pick it up and put it in your pocket. Know you always have this talisman and pack to come back to.

Now start to physically come back to your body, wiggle your toes, focus on your breathing, and when you are ready open your eyes. It is a good idea to eat a little something or drink some water to ground yourself if you need to. Also, if you can, journal about your experience when it is still fresh in your mind. Be on the look out for any messages from nature and animal spirits or in your dreams for the next week or so.

Thank you so much. I hope this meditation helps you on your path.

Guest post by:

Marissa Moondaughter

GRATITUDE // CATIE OF SPIRIT Y SOL

noreply@blogger.com (Roots and Feathers) — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 01:50:00 +0000

With the holidays rapidly approaching, it's easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of family gatherings, festive parties and shopping, and lose sight of the deeper meaning of these festivals. For some of us, this time of year is also bittersweet -- bringing with it the reminder of loved ones no longer with us or feelings of loneliness and stress. One way to lift our spirits and capture the true essence of the holidays is to practice gratitude meditations... simple activities that can help us open our hearts to numerous blessings in our lives.

"The more we learn to return thanks, the more space we make for new unexpected blessings to appear in our lives. Every time we show gratitude for the millions of ways we are blessed daily, we send our energy into the unseen world of the Dream Weave, and those threads of gratitude strengthen our spiritual connections. The resulting fabric of trust and faith is the safety net that catches us when we go through the Dark Night of the Soul, protecting us against the internal enemy of victim thinking."

~Jamie Sams from Dancing the Dream

Here are a few simple gratitude practices you may want to try:

-Keep a journal by your bed and write down three things that you're thankful for each night. These can be as deep as 'the strength to forgive', or as simple as 'chocolate'! By taking a few moments to reflect on your blessings before falling asleep, you may find that you sleep more peacefully and awake with a positive outlook for the following day.

-Remember to say thank you! This practice goes beyond simple manners -- the deeper purpose is to recognize others for what they give to you and the ways they enrich your life. Take an extra moment to thank the people that you spend your day with: your partner, co-workers, friends, the barista at your favorite coffee shop, etc. Be sure to make eye contact, speak slowly, and let the power of the words 'thank you' really sink in. By sending out waves of gratitude, we invite more love and positive energy to flow into our lives, and we inspire those around us to give thanks as well.

-Create a gratitude tree. Cut a small tree branch or bundle some twigs together and place them in a decorative pot or vase. Hang paper tags from the branches and write on thing you're thankful for on each tag. You can use your gratitude tree as a holiday decoration, and leave blank tags for your friends and family to fill out. Simply seeing a visual representation of your blessings can put a smile on your face and remind you to breathe deeply, give thanks, and pass those blessings on!

Spirit Y Sol // shop // blog // facebook

PEACE AND LOVE,

Catie of The Bohemian Collective

SEVENLY // FIERCE MINDS

noreply@blogger.com (Roots and Feathers) — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 19:00:00 +0000

This weeks new shirt was just released on Sevenly. This week, your purchase provides behavioral therapy for a child with autism through the National Autism Association. Check out their site for more information on this cause, a video, and of course their rad shirts.

PEACE AND LOVE,
Laura of The Bohemian Collective

SOUL STIRRING // JONI MITCHELL

noreply@blogger.com (Roots and Feathers) — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 17:09:00 +0000

Almost every year around this time, I find myself putting Joni Mitchell's Blue album on without even thinking about it. Something about the air turning colder, the hustle in the world about the holidays coming and the end of another season, brings me a feeling of longing, missing my mother and needing some calm space in my soul. This album does just that for me. It always brings me right back to my mom, the bittersweet longing I have in my heart to see her face to face again, but also the comfort she made me feel. I love that music can have this human connection for our hearts, long after someone is gone.

Joni was someone my mom loved to share with me. She told me stories of how she sang 'River' to me when I was a baby, and it ironically became one of my favorite songs as I grew older and began to choose what I loved on my own. Something about that song has always struck such a deep chord within me, as I know it did my mom too. Which I why I have the lyrics, 'I wish I had a river I could skate away on' tattooed on my arm, wrapping around other imagery that reminds me of my mother's spirit. The beautiful thing is I doubt any musician ever knows how deeply a song may touch someone's life, even so many years later. It is a transcending art form that can evoke so many deep emotions that we sometimes don't even realize we have until the music brings it out in us. That is art.

River by Joni Mitchell on Grooveshark

When my mother was dying of cancer, there came a time when she could no longer speak to us, or even focus her eyes to see us anymore. It was such a hard time to physically watch her slip away from us like that. There was a moment I was alone with her, and my words were not coming. I wanted to talk to her, to let her know I was there, but I had no idea if she heard me or not. I didn't know what to do, so I got the cd player and put on Joni's blue album. When the song River came on, I sang it to her, just like she sang it to me when I was a baby, with tears streaming down my face. Then, the next song on the album is 'A Case of You', another one of our mutual favorites that we would sing together all the time while we were working. She opened her eyes and sang every single word with me, and then as soon as the song was over, she went back into her otherwordly state. It was the most bittersweet moment I have ever experienced in my entire life, and most likely ever will. A moment in time that this beautiful musician above, captivated one last bonding moment for me and my mother. I will never forget it, and will always be grateful for the thread that music can weave between two souls, keeping us together long after we are made to part physically. This is also true for people who are still alive, but can no longer be a part of your life. There will always be songs, that the moment you hear them, you immediately feel a closeness or longing for that person. It is magic, I truly believe.

A Case of You by Joni Mitchell on Grooveshark PEACE AND LOVE, Laura of The Bohemian Collective

PINSPIRATION // RELEASE

noreply@blogger.com (Roots and Feathers) — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 21:59:00 +0000

After weeks of working on the release for our latest lookbook that just launched, I feel a bit like this. Ready to dance, sleep, hide and/or howl. A combination of release, mental exhaust, and room for new. All images can be found on my pinterest page here.

PEACE AND LOVE,

Laura of The Bohemian Collective