Yesterday was Friday the 13th, the Day of the Goddess. I was born on a Friday the 13th, and with the exception of a few “surely, I must have been cursed” moments throughout my teenage years especially (didn’t we all have those?), I’ve always believed that it was rather special.

Years ago, when I delved into Numerology, I discovered that number 13 has always been associated with the Goddess and the Divine Feminine. According to Stargazer Astrology founder, Chirone Shakti, it’s in part because “there are 13 lunar months in the year, as opposed to 12 solar months.” Thirteen also marks the half-way point from full moon to full moon, as each lunar cycle is 28 days, which of course, also harmonizes with most women’s menstrual cycles. And Friday is known as the day of Venus, the planet of love and creativity, and “the sensuous feminine aspect of the Goddess”, Shakti explains. So when you combine a Friday with the number 13, it’s doubly divine.

So speaking of Divine Goddesses, how can the modern woman harness this potent, powerful, and ancient feminine energy and apply it to any and all aspects of her life? Easy: she has to think like a Goddess.

A Goddess is passionate and dedicated to her purpose. She is deeply connected to herself, her intuition, and her femininity. She is a loyal companion and a fierce protector of those she loves. She is in harmony with Mother Earth, and she seeks wisdom in silence, prayer, and meditation.

For clarity’s sake, ask yourself—Do my passions align with my purpose? Do I listen carefully to what my Inner Guide has to say? Do I foster meaningful relationships? Am I at peace with my surroundings? Do I stand proud in my Truth?

You see, being a Divine Goddess has nothing to do with what you look like or what you wear (although, it does have something to do with how you carry yourself), and absolutely everything to do with your ability to ask—and answer—these often sobering questions. When you lay it all out on the table so to speak, you’re able to step back and take a better look at the bigger picture. From this space, you can edit, add to, rearrange, realign, and ultimately, discover who you truly are at your core and begin to live from a place of authenticity, just like a Goddess.

As we’ve lost touch with our true selves we’ve also lost touch with a little something called accountability. The two go hand-in-hand—if you’re not at the helm of your own ship, then accountability would seem to be a rather foreign concept, or an altogether useless one, would it not?

For the truly out-of-touch, there may be an appeal to outsourcing the inner work, pointing fingers, and passing the blame as they wait for someone else to swoop in and save the day, but this lackadaisical approach isn’t sustainable any longer. We’re simply moving in circles. We need more individuals who are willing to roll up their sleeves, dig deep, and do the inner work that is required for everlasting change—in other words, we need people to take personal accountability instead of merely passing off the work.

The correlation between those who are quick to relinquish control (and/or their freedom) and those who lack accountability is worth examining, too. Perhaps they have forgotten (or refuse to accept) the fact that despite what they’ve been conditioned to believe, they’re in full control—sovereign and with limitless potential. Let this be a reminder.

Only once these connections have been made (or re-made), will we begin to see a true shift in the collective toward true peace, joy and freedom.

To my discerning and ever-curious young men: I hope you continue to ask the difficult questions even when—actually, especially when—it’s unpopular to do so.

I hope you continue to see and know yourselves and others as unique and sovereign individuals with valuable perspectives and bright ideas to share with the world.

I hope you continue to stand proud and tall in your convictions, and encourage others to do the same, even when it means you stand apart from the crowd.

I hope the desire to honor your truth and trust your intuition continues to ring louder than the noise of that which surrounds you.

I hope you continue to think outside of the box and passionately imagine all of the endless possibilities that exist at any given moment in time.

I hope you continue to push the boundaries and refuse to settle for the ordinary just because it’s easier.

I hope you continue to bravely hold yourself accountable and responsible for your missteps and shortcomings instead of passing the blame.

I hope you continue to treat others with kindness and respect while embracing your differences with open hearts and minds.

I hope you continue to value your space and solitude as a time to dream, relax, recharge, and realign.

I hope you continue to nourish your bodies with real, wholesome foods, movement, good sleep, fresh air and sunshine.

To my boys in 2020—you have continued to inspire me with your sheer resilience and optimism. The universe has spoken to me loud and clear and it has confirmed what I have known to be true all along; that I am exactly where I am meant to be, right here with you by my side.

Our high-tech world is affecting our eyes in a massive way, and the current shelter-in-place isn’t helping.

More than half of children and over seventy-percent of adults experience symptoms of digital eye strain. These numbers are likely climbing due to the global pandemic where distance learning and working-from-home have us depending on our digital devices more than ever before. So what’s the big deal? Well, after prolonged exposure to screens and other digital devices, all which sit close to the eye, the eye’s auto-focus system (known as “accommodation”) becomes stiff and locked in place. Distant objects will now appear blurry, and the eyes will feel strained when refocusing on distant objects. This excessive strain on the eyes will manifest itself in various forms, such as:

• HEADACHES – especially common in the temple or upper neck area.
• DRY, ITCHY EYES – while staring we blink less, and this dries out our eyes and causes them to itch.
• FATIGUE AND MALAISE – poor vision causes squinting and bad posture, tiring the muscles around the eyes and face, straining the body and reducing natural energy levels.

To make matters worse, these digital devices emit artificial blue light, which our eyes have not yet evolved to filter. Artificial blue light is a more powerful suppressor of melatonin than any drug known to man. When we are exposed to blue light in the evening hours and especially before bedtime, it is extremely disruptive to our sleep patterns. Exposure to blue light at night wreaks havoc on our circadian rhythms, because there are special light-sensing cells in the back of our eye that control our sleep-wake cycle and these cells are especially sensitive to blue light in the 459 – 485nm range.

The good news? Your local optician can offer state of the art protection against digital eye strain and blue light exposure with products such as ZEISS Blue Protect. ZEISS Blue Protect has been thoroughly researched to block the harmful effects of blue light in children and adults. It’s ideal for:

• Students (reading and writing on screens)
• PC/console gaming
• General indoor protection and comfort
• Working around bright fluorescent or LED lights
• Watching widescreen HD television/movies

If you can, be sure to turn off blue light sources at least three hours before going to bed, or wear a blue-filtering lens. Our understanding of blue light’s impact is growing every year. We’re sure to learn even more, but there’s no better time than right now to protect something as valuable as your vision.

Let’s talk about MIRROR WORK and SELF LOVE. Have you looked at your reflection in the mirror and told yourself “I Love You” yet today? The thought itself might make you uncomfortable—it’s silly, or pompous, or even a little crazy, you might say. But why?

According to Mindset and Empowerment Coach, Shaina Gadow (@shainagadow), Self-Love is a major component of your vibrational energy and therefore, in your ability to attract into your life what it is you desire. Shaina suggests working some simple yet powerful Self-Love affirmations and mirror work into your morning routine to amp up your mood and your energy. It can go something like this:

Step in front of the mirror. Place your hand on your heart and just allow the process. Let it be uncomfortable. Let your emotions surface. To start, it may be easier to say: “I’m choosing to believe” or “I’m in the process of believing” and then your Self-Love affirmations. For example, “I’m in the process of believing I am worthy. I’m in the process of believing I’m beautiful. I am choosing to love myself. I love you, I love you, I love you.”

So tell us, do you practice Self-Love affirmations and mirror work as part of your Self-Care routine?

We all know that adequate sleep is crucial to optimal health and functionality so make a promise to yourself here and now: get enough sleep—no matter what. We spoke with South Florida-based Ayurvedic practitioner Ashley Rarick about getting a better nights’ sleep, and here are her tips for inducing a deep and restful slumber, naturally:

1.—Take 10 deep belly breaths: when lying in bed place your hand over the belly button and breathe in deeply and slowly to the point where you can feel the belly rise for ten breaths. This will stimulate the Vagus nerve, bringing natural relaxation to the body. This can also be done if you find yourself waking up in the middle of the night.
2.—Have a cup of warm milk with a pinch nutmeg and natural sweetener of your choice about an hour before bed. Nutmeg is traditionally used in Ayurveda to naturally relax the body to help induce sound sleep.
3.—Have your last meal at least 3 hours before bed.
4.—Do not take day naps if you are having trouble sleeping at night.
5.—Take a warm bath with rose essential oil before bedtime. This will help you unwind and soothe the mind, preparing for sound sleep. Rose helps heal not only skin, but also brings about a state of deep mental calm and healing.
6.—Spend the hour before bed without the use of electronics.
7.—Have a cup of warm chamomile tea before bedtime. Chamomile brings deep calm to the nervous system.

Wishing you a better night’s sleep…