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Despite the outcome of the recent election, I am still finding reasons to be thankful and practice gratitude during this holiday season. I have a wonderful circle of close friends, I can still converse with my family and spend time with them, and I’ve enjoyed enough steady freelance work the last couple of months to pay my bills and stay on top of things. I’m not going to preach about fighting the good fight, or never giving up hope, or staying cheerful no matter what. For one thing, it’s just not practical for everyone right now, myself included. What I can share, is that there’s no better time than the present for practicing self-care.

Good Company

It can be all too easy to get lost in social obligations, trying in vain to create the perfect meal, or worrying too much about how we’re stacking up to others at this time of year. We need to let ourselves off the hook, take a deep breath, and cut ourselves some slack. Visiting should be about the people, not the places. The setting is a backdrop, and the food we share together is a complement to the good company. Plus, there is no such thing as perfection–so there, too.

Whenever you have made a batch of salts, scrubs, or magic potions whether for your own use or as a gift, you should stop and count your health blessings in with this mindfulness practice. Sit in a comfortable position with your bottle of potions placed in a bowl or dish in front of you. Think about the blessings in your life and the gifts your particular item offers; visualize your skin and hair gleaming with vitality. Picture your loved ones wearing a big smile as they use your handmade remedies. What are you grateful for at this moment? There is a powerful magic in recognizing all that you possess and in having an attitude of gratitude. Breathe steadily and deeply, inhaling and exhaling slowly for twenty minutes. As you meditate, send the positive energy into the bowl containing your personal potion. Now, the blessings are there any time you or a loved one may need them.

Essential oils are highly concentrated extracts of flowers, herbs, roots, or resin extract, sometimes diluted in neutral base oil. Try to ensure you are using natural oils instead of manufactured, chemical-filled perfume oils; the synthetics lack any real energy. Also, approach oils with caution, and don’t get them in your eyes. Clean cotton gloves are a good idea to keep in your kitchen for handling sensitive materials. You can avoid any mess and protect your magical tools by using oil droppers. While you are learning and studying, find a trusted herbalist or the wise sage at your local metaphysical shop; usually their years of experience offer much in the way of useful knowledge you can use to your advantage. I have included as much as I can in this at-a-glance guide to oils. These essential oils are excellent choices for anointing lamps as well as yourself:

Cinnamon is energetic, spicy, and warm. It stimulates the mind as well as the body.

Settle in with Desire,
have a cup of tea,
dialogue about decisions
and destiny 
and what makes your heart sing.
Listen to her wisdom,
she knows of what she speaks,
the path is before you,
the sun is shining
and she's ready to guide your way.
Set forth,
hand in hand,
a story of trust nestled in your chest
a soulsong on your lips,
and purpose in your stride.
Take all that you feel
and use it to create.

Sometimes the best rituals
are those we cannot plan,
requiring only pine needles and wind,
open eyes
and a long, slow-sinking sun
settling gently into shadows.
Sometimes the best magic
of all is made with
what is exactly right now,
bluestem grass and gray feathers,
raccoon footsteps
between the trees,
laughter and joined hands,
a faith in the cycles of retreat
and renewal.
This is what we are here for,
days like these.

One of the things that we can always feel grateful for is good health. Without it, we often can't perform the simplest of daily tasks on our to-do list. Because it's such a basic and instinctual need, it's all too easy to take our well-being for granted. With patients exercising a healthy suspicion of certain drugs being over-prescribed by the medical community, it's no surprise that holistic and alternative medicines are being sought out more than ever before. Many therapies and treatments originated in the Far East, such as Qigong, reiki, cupping, and acupuncture.

Needles You Needn't to be Afraid of

Acupuncture can be traced back as far as 6000 BCE, and was first practiced in China substituting long, pointy bones for the needles. The concept behind inserting the needles into the human body to combat anything from stress to pain is intriguing. It all centers around each individual's life force, or "qi," running though the body. When certain areas are in disharmony, your qi cannot easily flow the way it is supposed to. You become blocked and this can lead to chronic discomfort and illness. A set of up to 20 sterilized needles are gently pushed into the skin for up to 30-60 minutes at a time. Acupuncture enthusiasts affirm that it really works for them, and they start to notice the benefits very soon after their first few treatments. Just remember if trying this experience for the first time yourself, it helps to keep your eyes closed and stay in a meditative state—otherwise you can't let the healing work for you and through you!