Sacred Self Love Session - Fey Wolf

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I am the Medicine Woman of Fey Wolf Healing, a Shamanic Energy Work Practice with an emphasis on healing Feminine Trauma. It was once shown to me that sometimes the Self’s brightest gifts hide in the shadows of their trauma. However large or small these experiences seemed at the time, they sever the energetic cords that then cut the Self off from their True Nature. These experiences create neural pathways around them that are essentially starved of their Love. And this is how the False Self is created.

You see, through the lens of trauma, false and often subconscious stories are created about having limited access to Love, Empowerment, and Freedom. They stick like glue to the psyche and energy body, often re-creating misguided experiences in alignment with the low vibrations of their trauma, until it is declared that a new story of Self is to be created. One where they are the hero of their own story, rescuing themselves from the narratives of their trauma, and making Medicine to share the fruits of their labor with others and the world around them.

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In order to truly move forward and expand into this next version of Self, I have learned that it is imperative to travel back. Supported by Spirit Allies, Source Consciousness, and a Medicine Drum, I open channels for my clients to discover their own blocks, fears, and misconceptions about their Self and the world around them. We get deep into the subconscious mind and physical body to understand where the trauma and false stories have been stored and located. Through the eyes of unconditional love and non-judgement, I hold space for those stories to be honored and released. To be loved, held, and then ultimately, dissolved. Together, we form new patterns and neural pathways that empower the Self to remember that every part of them is inherently, Love.

And that is why I am forever enchanted by the Darkness. By the shadow. By the spaces of Love that are disguised as something different. By Death that inherently leads to Re-Birth, and by the evolution of consciousness that relies on this cycle to ultimately propel itself forward. Back and forth, forward and back, as we collect pieces of ourselves that unlock doors towards Unity. It is my life’s greatest pleasure, to hold space for others to do their own healing. It is a true gift to know Shadow and Light in their delicate intimacy. To witness how those energies dance and transform together. And to see the lights that come on in those who remember their wholeness. Ultimately, I am grateful. To be alive at this time in a world who is remembering their Power, is to witness something fierce yet so soft and gentle, something that can only be discovered by the Feminine within.

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On this day of shooting my Sacred Self Love Session with Olivia, I felt as if I had climbed higher towards Spirit and Self Expression than I ever had before. Olivia held space for me to share what the Medicine of Fey Wolf Healing means to me, and in her own divinity was able to channel that into the vision of this shoot that I feel has captured it All. I was astounded and thrilled, riddled with ecstasy from beginning to end, as I felt her higher vision carrying us in that gentle yet fierce way that led magic into every shot. Olivia created safe and feminine space for me to unleash all that I felt was coming up to be explored. It is ultimately the essence of what I have shared here with you today. And that is some Sacred Self Love magic, baby!

A link to Fey Wolfs online portal of healing can be found here:) https://www.feywolfhealing.info/

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ZERO WASTE

I claim to care about the Earth. I claim to hold reverence for the environment, and feel outrage at the state of its global destruction. I consider myself a loving activist, a vegan (on most days), and a guardian of the planet. And yet, when I take a honest look at how I live and consume on a daily basis, the ethics don't align. I need to make a change. So for the month of November, I saved all of my trash and recycling. All single use utensils, cups, straws, bags, wrappers, boxes, batteries, food packaging, bottles, junk mail, tin foil, receipts, toothpicks, EVERYTHING. I wanted to get a visual representation of how my daily and often mindless actions were effecting the planet in terms of sheer volume. I wanted it to smack me in the face. To have to literally sit with it. So here it is; one month of consuming like I normally do.

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Ah... horrifying. To think that this pile is from ONE human, from ONE month makes me feel weak. To put the magnitude of our plastic problem into perspective, a substance that will NEVER biodegrade, let's take a look at straws. 500 million straws are used and thrown away EVERY DAY in the United States alone. 500 million. And thats just straws, an object so small you have to squint to even see them in this photo. We've got to change the way we view our consumption, our need for immediacy and our denial that when we throw something "away" it just goes away. It doesn't.

I need to be more mindful. For me, that's the first step to making a lasting change. And this is where the hope comes in. In the image below, I sorted out all the single-use trash and recyclable items that I could easily replace with re-usable alternatives, or that I can simply say NO to in stores.

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This accounts for a huge percentage of the pile, which means that by switching out single use straws for stainless steel alternatives, brining my own bags and bulk containers when shopping, by not buying food and other daily items that come in excessive packaging, by committing to only using reusable utensils, cups and napkins when I eat out, by requesting no wrappers, tissue paper or bags for take away food and clothing items, saying no to receipts, using re-chargeable batteries, and just saying NO to purchasing quick and easy "feel good" items that I don't really need, I can eliminate a huge portion of my daily waste. I can simply just buying less. 

So that's what I plan to do. Throughout November, while saving all my trash, I was also researching and purchasing the most badass, eco friendly items that I could find to replace the single use garbage. Here's what I found!

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Below is the setup that I now carry in my purse with me at all times, ready for use when I get take away, sit down to a meal at a food card, New Seasons, a picnic, pretty much any situation outside my home. 

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Since I work from home, I like to go out to coffee every morning. I'll often drink it at the shop, but for when I do take away, I have marked where the 12oz and 16oz lines are on the jar. Also shown here is my favorite stainless steel lunchbox! It opens up into four spacious sections which doubles perfectly for little plates when I'm out as well.

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Below are three examples of "starter" packs that I put together if you guys are interested in quick and easy system for moving towards creating less trash. I've put links to the information on everything shown in this post, along with where you can buy each item at the end:) Feel free to e-mail me (olivia.ashton.photography@gmail.com) with any questions at all, and if you'd like me to put together a starter pack for you and send it pre-made, please reach out I would be thrilled to do so!

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I know this is just scratching the surface when it comes to the massive, large scale changes that need to be made on a daily basis, but this is a start. Ultimately, this experience has taught me to slow down, think critically, and be more mindful.  We live in a society that's set up to make us feel like we always need MORE. More things, more experiences, more knowledge, more efficiently, more beauty, more credentials. Moremoremore, and *then* we'll be happy. But the "more-ness" is a bottomless, insatiable pit. It means that NOW is never quite enough. Lately I've been realizing just how engrained this way of being is into my psyche. "More" isn't going to make me more happy. The task at hand is to keep coming back to the remembrance that I am, in this moment, already whole and enough.  And to stop using so many damn plastic straws along the way. 

Ill be collecting my trash and recycling again this month, and checking back in at the end of December with another photo and some words about what I learned while actively, mindfully TRYING to create less waste :) If you're interested, please join in!! Commit to saving all of your trash and recycling for one month, and share your experience using the hashtag #GaiaGuardiansUnite so we can all follow along too!

Below are a few tips on how to make less trash, outlined in a beautiful poster created by THE ULTIMATE Zero Waste legend @bezerowastegirl. I've found it super helpful, and a good visual reminder of the steps we can take daily to decrease our trash footprint. She has heaps of incredible information, tips, tricks, blog posts, as well as links to sustainable companies and environmental organizations on her website at www.bezero.org -- definitely check it out if you're wanting to learn more about cultivating a zero waste lifestyle.

 

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Products Shown:

Ambatalia Linen Utensil Holder and Kitchen Towel: http://ambatalia.green

All Organic Reusable Bags Shown: (except sandwich bags): http://www.ecobags.com

Hemp and Organic Cotton Sandwich Bags: https://www.lifewithoutplastic.com

Bare Ware Stainless Steel Lunchbox: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015RR4T66/?tag=tlunchbox-20

Mudder 10.5in Stainless Steel Straws + Cleaning Brushes:  https://www.amazon.com/Mudder-Stainless-Cleaning-Brushes-Portable/dp/B01FZ6QRXM

8.5 in Stainless Steel Straws + Cleaning Brush:  https://www.amazon.com/Stainless-X-Chef-Drinking-Reusable-Cleaning/dp/B0146J1W3Y

Utensils and Reusable Napkin: https://www.newseasonsmarket.com/

How To Make Less Trash PDF: www.bezero.org

 

 

AMY CARNAHAN DESIGN + FAMILY

Meet Amy Carnahan! She's a brilliant interior designer, amazing wife and mother to three. I've had the pleasure of working with Amy on many occasions. In this post, I have a mix of interior work that I've shot for her, along with some family portraits (adorable baby toes ahead). Enjoy! xx

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A little on Amy: 

"My passion for interiors developed when we bought our 1939 Cape Cod home, and room by room breathed life and light back into it.  It continues to be, and always will be, a labor of love and creative inspiration. 

My design compass closely resonates to the modern vibes of the Northwest. Simplicity combined with form and function. As a mother of three toddlers I am proof that sophisticated decor and children can coexist under one roof, and that a busy life does not forgo beauty.  Let’s face it...I have an uplifting obsession for the business of interiors and fashion and I hold them close both personally and professionally. They are a direct reflection of who we are and how we feel. There are no rules. Let’s play."

You can view more of her work here: www.amycarnahan.com