In an ever-changing world around us that is bringing little certainty, one tiny thing that can help is to "cap off" the day with an evening ritual.

Whether you live alone, with roommates or with family, carving out some time to honor the day builds connection, releases stress and provides a framework for processing and sharing the emotions and happenings in our lives.

When we are home together, our family likes to go around the dinner table and share:

• our high points and low points of the day
• something we are proud of
• something we appreciated 
• something we are looking forward to

When I am alone, I like to light a candle and run a warm bath and journal the same prompts.

Our big lives are made up of little moments.  Putting some intention and acknowledgement of these little moments in our lives and those that surround us leads to more intentional moments in the future.

A life lived with intention is one that feels more fulfilling, joyful and connected, don't you...

This month, I started a practice of 30 days of tiny shifts! 

The purpose is to create change in our lives....one small action at a time.

I've posted them on our Facebook page and you can view them and join us at any time!

https://www.facebook.com/moonstoneventuresllc 

Here is Day 7 for you!

Have a beautiful weekend.

xoxox
Jen

Once every 2.7 years-we get a second full moon in a calendar month.  We just so happen to get that this Saturday, October 31st (Halloween).

(check out https://www.livescience.com/halloween-full-blue-moon.html for more info on this moon)

Cool right?

I’m someone who equally loves both the science and mystery of life.  Uncovering evidence based facts and leaving room for the possibility of the unknown.

Understanding the Moon’s cycle and its relationship to our earth and our systems dynamics is no different for me.  I love learning about the science and just observing its patterns in myself as well as being open to the symbology that the moon can hold during its various phases.

“From the beginning of human history, the moon has acted as a ‘cultural mirror’ to our beliefs, understanding and ways of seeing.” (Museum of the Moon my-moon.org)

Each month as the full moon emerges, I’m intrigued by what it...

I'm guessing you have heard the term “you reap what you sow”. Unfortunately, our hard work doesn’t always equate to desired results. Sometimes things don't go as planned, we don’t get a return on that investment, or the seeds we've planted don’t grow ( OR the frost comes right before harvest :).

Regardless of your current situation or the outcome of your efforts- you can harvest joy and REAP reward by following these simple steps: 

R - Rest- rest is critical for your body, mind and spirit to renew. It is also critical for decision making and prioritizing. If you are feeling a lack of joy or increased chaos- sleep on it! If this is hard for you...consider mediation, slow walks in nature, warm baths, healthy diet and turning off the screen.

E - Explore Your Nature- each of us are equipped with an internal navigation system that lets us know when something feels “warmer” or “colder”. Track yourself...what interests you? Who do...

Believing on Purpose

What is the recipe for results?

When you look at your personal or professional life and you see what is working and what is not working, what do you attribute it to?

Luck?

Training and Credentials?

A Supportive Team?

$ in the Bank?

Healthy Mind and Body?

Organized Desk?

Clear Vision & Strategies?

Spiritual Practice?

Strong Leadership?

What if all of those things were good ingredients- but the crucial ingredient...

the one that makes or breaks the recipe...

is believing on purpose.

"Self-belief does not necessarily ensure success, but self-disbelief assuredly spawns failure." 

-Albert Bandera- Self-efficacy: The Exercise of Control, 1997

You have a choice in each moment to decide what you believe.  

You can believe your business or strategy will work...

You can believe you can take the leap...

You can believe in your abilities and your resilience....

You can believe in your ability to set boundaries...

You can...

When to Retreat

by, Jen Visitacion

My husband Joshua and I took a couple of days away together to get some rest and to soak in some hot water.

As we planned our weekend, we put some intention into how we would spend our time both individually and  together.  Our bodies were feeling the end of the farming season, especially with an influx of downed trees to manage, so we knew that taking care of our bodies was the highest priority.  We also knew we needed some time to connect on priorities moving forward this fall.  

As we began to release the tension from the season and to reconnect to nature, ourselves, and each other...our life together came into to focus and a revived vision emerged.

This is not the first time this has happened.  In fact, in any major transition we have created space to "get away" and put intention to our self care and connection.  This is beyond a vacation- its more about purposeful retreat.  

The...

Over the past week since she passed, we have seen evidence of her powerful words, actions and impacts. 

Her poise, her stature, her marriage, her friendships, her resolve, her humor, her dignity... 

May we all carry her with us and honor her for making the most of this life she had. 

Rest In Peace

"My mother told me to be a lady. And for her, that meant be your own person, be independent." RBG

The definition of compatible is "able to exist  or occur together without conflict."

When I read this definition I had to laugh.  In my little family of three humans, two dogs, three horses, 18 chickens and 1 rooster....there is rarely a day when we all feel "compatible" or without conflict.  

For example, yesterday I began letting the chickens out in the garden to free range again, now that our garden season is mostly over.  I brought over some water and the rooster cornered me in their pen. 

I was woefully unprepared to defend myself as he prepared to come at me (usually I bring in a garden tool to keep him at a distance- hence the photo represented).  

In this moment our priorities were clearly in conflict and we were not compatible.  I wanted to give everyone some more space and freedom (and water) and he felt that the flock was threatened (by me).  Neither of us was wrong....but...

Don't get me wrong, I'm all about positive thinking. 
But positive thinking as a bypass around feeling emotions?
Not so much.

We are in unprecedented times.
People have fear.
Leaders have fear.
Can that be ok?

What if instead of bypassing our fear, we became a bit more curious about it?
What if that curiosity leads to more innovation, more creativity, more vision? 
What if the key to moving through fear is allowing it?

What if we defined fearless leadership this way...

F: Feel it- allow space for emotion and sensations that are uncomfortable.
E: Embrace vulnerability - knowing your decisions may have unintended consequences
A: Ask questions - of yourself and others... don't assume you know the answers.
R: Recognize personal biases and "blind spots" that might be clouding your vision.
L: Learn, grow, rest, repeat... foster a growth mindset for yourself and model for others. 
E: Express gratitude - even through fear, challenge, crisis- there is much to be grateful for.
S: Self care...

One of my favorite classes of my MBA program was on resilience thinking.

We studied how interconnected social, environmental and economic systems are and how failure to look at this interconnectedness when problem solving brings more vulnerability and less resilience.

I try to keep this in mind when making decisions for my household and business and in my leadership roles in our community.

This also translates to self care and mindfulness of my mind, body and spirit. When I feel more vulnerable than resilient, I look at what might be out of balance with my personal sustainability plan.

How is my environment? Is it peaceful, tidy? Am I connected to my land, to nature, the surrounding landscapes?

How is my community? Do I feel a good energy exchange of friends, colleagues, family? Do I need more time with peeps or less?

How are my resources? Am I balancing the energy flow of finances? Am I willing to invest in the things that bring me and our family joy? Am I creating enough space to...