A non-traditional Christmas plan like hiking, exploring different religious practices, or volunteering can be a peaceful way to connect with the spirit of giving. It can allows us to celebrate God through mindfulness, compassion, and a deeper connection to the world around us.

Blue Spaces enhance urban environments by supplying the natural element of water. They improve air and water quality, support biodiversity, and provide concentrated healing. Blue Spaces also bring forth opportunities for recreation, relaxation, and social interaction, contributing to a higher quality of life and making cities more livable and resilient.

The Autumn Equinox is about noticing the shift in the seasons, appreciating its natural beauty, and getting into the autumn spirit. I did some research about the celebration of the Autumn Equinox, also known as Mabon, to learn about the practice of seasonal mindfulness, cultivating my own rituals, and learning an Apple Spell of abundance.

A Full Moon Ritual circles around the concept of abundance. Imagine you already have everything, the health, wealth, abundance, relationships, career, family, and vacations, what's next? With a manifestation meditation, you can direct your philanthropic energy, goals, ideas, wishes, and dreams into something even bigger.

A New Moon Ritual is a time for self-reflection and setting goals. Since this is my first deliberate New Moon Ritual, I wanted to design a simple evening that reflected on the previous season and set effortless goals for the next. A New Moon Ritual is also a wonderful time to journal and appreciate the ending of a cycle and the beginning of a new one.

A towel meditation draws healing benefits from nature therapy, meditation therapy, energy therapy, beauty therapy, hydrotherapy, and sauna therapy. Simply lay in the sun, protect your skin, stay hydrated, and activate cod mode.

Between breakfastes, I made a cushion cover from a well loved blanket of grass for meditation, prayer, and garden gazing.

From traditional uses in spas to medical discoveries, a bouquet of Eucalyptus provides many physical, mental, emotional, and environmental benefits. Something so simple as putting Eucalyptus leaves in your shower helps with respiratory, skin, and muscle health and can protect you from harmful bacteria. It's like a really beneficial decoration and it happened to be beautiful, plentiful, store-bought, safe, and simple, how charming is that?

God moments can be routine, random, intentional, or awesome and can provide many therapeutic benefits. There are different types of God moments when we appreciate the beauty of living. God moments can be found in any meaningful moment and are worth collecting, experiencing, and feeling a rich gratitude.

There’s something magical about gardening that makes it so therapeutic for me. It’s a peaceful pastime that provides fresh air, cool shade, lovely fragrances, and sometimes food. Plants can be beautiful, resilient, and full of life. Over the past five years, I’ve had several seasons of caring for different kinds of gardens like indoor plants in colder weather, outdoor plants in warmer climates, and maintaining a garden for my pet snails wherever I go. The microecology for a modular garden is a science, an art, and an energetic connection.

In 2011, I took a solo train trip from Portland, Maine to Los Angeles, California. It took four days and the path went to Boston, MA, west to Chicago, IL, south to San Antonio, TX, and west to Los Angeles. Traveling can provide many wellness benefits. For me, it’s part art therapy, meditation therapy, and nature therapy. Looking back at my photos taken with my first DSLR, a Canon Rebel XSi, reminds me of how I used to capture the natural beauty around me.

Los Angeles, CA

Downtown Los Angeles has a popular flower district, known for their bouquets, orchids, succulents, and indoor plants. Shops are also home to lots of cats, and chill cats mean good vibes.

Naps, waves, and surfers. The southern California coast is a wonderful spot to rest, meditate, and enjoy hydrotherapy from the immense beauty of the Pacific Ocean

Van Nuys, CA

Japanese Gardens have a long history of implementing specific design principles to achieve contemplation and contentment. I volunteered at a Japanese Buddhist temple where I enjoyed the meditation of gardening, focusing on one task, and removing waste to reveal beauty. Other Japanese gardens in Los Angeles are famous due to the influence of Dr. Koichi Kawana. At the Suiho En Japanese Garden in Van Nuys, his design reflects a calm space where we can focus on the beauty of both nature and our lives.

Los Angeles, CA

The Heidi Duckler Dance Company is a site-specific contemporary and post-modern dance group that performs all around Los Angeles. I attended their annual performance in the park called ebb & flow, this season at the Los Angeles State Historic Park near Chinatown.

Los Angeles, CA

Grand Spa in K-town, a 24-hour women’s only spa, great for soaking, sweating, and rejuvenating for the new year. Before the spa, I stopped by Porto’s and the Griffith Observatory with Stirbee.

Playa Del Rey, CA
I held these crystals while I meditated and noticed a subtle yet liberating feeling. It’s one thing to learn that certain crystals contribute certain energetic properties, it’s a whole other thing to feel it for myself.

Pacific Palisades, CA
An afternoon hike, hopping from rock to rock along a creek on the Santa Ynez Canyon Trail, included a meditation with one of my favorite amethyst crystals.

Topanga, CA
A crystal shop in the heart of winding canyons, Topanga Rocks has meditating statues, a trickling waterfall, and giant crystals that inspire me to design a fantasy landscape with nature’s gifts.

West Hills, CA
I was on my way to a trailhead when I passed by Orcutt Ranch, a public garden, event space, and orchard. I’m glad I landed on this detour because I got a chance to meditate and absorb this peaceful atmosphere of citrus mist.