Ice Cube Magic

Ice cubes are, in essence, fixed water (Scorpio) and represent fixed emotions. Whether you feel fixated on the past, obsessed with changing the present, or fully focused on the future, ice cube magic may ease your way.


Take an ice cube from the freezer. Grab a permanent marker: black, blue, or red ink works best. Write on the ice cube anything you want to see dissolve, shift, or change: grief, jealousy, stress, debt, taxes, the name of an ex-lover, your boss, cancer, etc. If the tip freezes, it's okay; you can imagine invisible ink or switch to using an athame to scratch in the word(s).


Put it on a small plate, preferably in the sun. You can sit and watch the ice cube dissolve, noticing all the emotions that well up in your being and dissolve through tears. Or you can go out and do something completely else - the spell will be working in your subconscious the whole time.

Now, what to do with your melted emotions? You can pour the water down the toilet, flushing it completely away. You can pour it on an outside plant, allowing new growth to emerge. Be creative, yet keep it simple; invite ease and flow into your life.

(Excerpt from Laphrodite's Guide to Mindful Menopause or the Adventures of a Baby Crone)

SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder

 

As I write this, it is February, and I face my longest month of the year due to SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder. Hey, I'd rather be depressed for 28 days of the year than 365 like when I was a teenager. Usually doesn't hit hard until mid-month, so I'm setting up my ducks. I think about the Moomins who would fill their bellies with pine needles and hibernate through the long Nordic winter. I fill mine with St. John's Wort and organic Pop-Tarts, steamed spinach, and smoked salmon. I hunker down by the woodstove, feeling extremely grateful for the companionship of my sweetie and all the cats, each of us curled into our personal ball of introspection. I notice that my current clients all reflect the need for withdrawal. The Eight of Cups in the tarot indicates the need to retreat, renew, and rejuvenate.

I know California needs rain, but each sunny day feels like a reprieve, and I sit in the pale winter light trying to recharge my photoelectric batteries stored behind my third eye, the oh so important pineal gland. I notice I am sleeping a lot more and have just given up completely trying to go out in the evenings. I count the days and mark off the calendar like a prisoner trying to reach parole. Five days down, twenty-three to go…

I was first diagnosed with depression when I was fifteen years old, a label I have struggled with ever since. In the last couple of decades, I have boiled it down from year-round symptoms to February. The first of March has come to signify the beginning of Spring, not just on the earth but truly the rebirth of my psyche. Rather than resisting the dark of winter, I have created a way to move through. Much like knowing it is inevitable that I will get a cold or the flu each winter, I strive to bolster my immune system - physical and emotional. I accept this time much like accepting being premenstrual; however, there are ways to alleviate the symptoms and create better mental health.

According to the NIMH, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects up to 9.7% of Americans. Also known as the Winter Blues, I have managed this personally by a combination of the following:

St. John's Wort - While it does not make me euphoric by any means, it gives me an even keel. It is most effective when taken at least one month before my regular symptoms appear in February.

Sleep - Hibernation is my friend. I sleep anywhere from nine to twelve hours, plus take naps during the wintertime. Way better than checking out on drugs, alcohol, or any other escape mechanism. Plus, I look so young with all that beauty rest.

Sunshine - There is a reason why I live in California. However, I remember when I was a kid living in rainy, cold Luxembourg, my parents bought a tanning lamp to give all of us a seasonal boost.

Vitamin D - Of course is naturally produced by being in the sun, but with global warming and polar vortex conditions, consider supplementing your regimen. Vitamin C is also our friend, boosting immunity.

Aromatherapy - Orange, bergamot, and lemon all uplift the spirits. Combine with a carrier oil and use as either a room spray or body spray. Check for allergies first.

Stop drinking alcohol - Quite simply, it is a depressant. Again, like taking herbs, it’s most effective if I stop drinking one to three months before I usually experience my winter blues.

Wear bright colors - I find myself reaching into the closet for the grey and black clothing, reflecting my inner landscape. Deliberately choosing to wear purples, reds, yellows, and other bright colors helps me "fake it until I make it."

Orgasm - I went to a workshop on tantra, and what I remember the most is to engage in self-pleasure, even if you do not feel like it at first. The hormones and neurotransmitters released are the same for happiness and feeling in love. Apparently, sex is better than valium.

Reiki/Massage - Intrinsic touch is crucial to human happiness, especially if you choose not to engage in the last tip.

Smile/Laugh - another "fake it till you make it" technique, I schedule a lot of lunches with colleagues and make an effort to hang out with my friends more, as being isolated simply leads to that spiral of depression. Watch funny movies/tv shows/internet sites, avoid the news/radio/Facebook, be super selective.

Hypnosis/Meditate - Taking the time to set your intentions, experiencing deep relaxation, letting go of stress, and simply allowing yourself to be present are soothing, healing, and comforting. Check out my YouTube video "A Simple Self-Hypnosis Technique" for more information.

Exercise - another way to release those feel-good endorphins, a twenty-minute walk can do wonders for your mood. On rainy days, I do the "Just Dance" program on the Wii. Shake it up!

Get a Job - Studies show that people who retire early tend to lead shorter lives. Why? Because often our work gives our lives meaning. There's a reason it's called an occupation - it keeps us occupied. Be okay with a complete new career change, even if you have "retired." Or consider volunteering, taking classes, or getting involved in local politics. After a period of isolation, reconnect with your community as a mentor.

Note: This is not meant to be a substitute for any medical or therapeutic advice. Do what is best for you, and please, create a support system for yourself. You deserve a healthy, happy life and can manage your emotions without having them manage you.

(Excerpt from Laphrodite's Guide to Mindful Menopause or the Adventures of a Baby Crone)

Rag Burning Ritual

 

Thirteen moons had passed since my last period. I contemplated the red bundle in the middle of the woodstove in its nest of kindling. For over a year, it had sat on my altar, a red linen ceremonial cloth from a menstruation ceremony now tied over a plethora of bandannas, glad rags, scraps of paper scribbled with names, dried lavender, and rosemary from the garden. 

It took time for the bundle to catch fire, and much longer for it to burn completely to ash. I let these cool, then scooped them into my little iron cauldron. I walked down to the church located at the center of the circles on the West Side of Santa Cruz and began to walk a labyrinth through the streets and neighborhood. I would stop at trees and sprinkle a pinch of ash and a blessing, slowly, deliberately, intentionally. Spiralling out from that holy ground, blessing my neighbors, my home, the ocean, I felt more and more release until I was as empty as my cauldron.

Now two years have passed, and I contemplate doing this ritual again, with the sweat-soaked rags from the ripped-up cotton sheets that have become my new favorite mopping tool. Simply setting the intention to be able to say, “This too has passed.”

What’s in your bundle? How will you release it? Remember to be mindful, be intentional, and be joyous.

Blessed be.

(Excerpt from Laphrodite's Guide to Mindful Menopause or the Adventures of a Baby Crone}

Remember to Remember

 

In memory’s golden basket, drop a pearl for me. - Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little House on the Prairie

You can boost your memory by "remembering" instead of forgetting. Every time we say, "Oh no, I forgot my keys!" We are actually affirming forgetting rather than what actually happened - you remembered (present tense) that you forgot something (past tense). Affirm the present moment, the remembering, and retrain your brain to say, “Wow, I just remembered my keys.”

Notice your memories replacing your eggs in your sacred womb space. There's a reason all these memories are coming up now. Mainly, because you can handle them. Emotionally, spiritually, you have the experience and maturity to review the past, and much like the oyster that coats the irritating grain of sand with the iridescence of the mother, it creates the pearls of wisdom. 

While going through the pause, I often found myself doing just that - pausing. Spacing out, blanking on names and words, forgetting what we were doing - a few more challenges to be sure. Fire up your brain. Practice mental exercises: crossword puzzles, Sudoku, logic games, and memory games. Use your fingers to keep lists for short-term memory. Use your phone for longer or long-term lists. Practice Beginner's Mind, connecting with a sense of wonder and innocence rather than confusion or doubt.

As we walked down to the beach, my daughter said, “Ok, Mom, I’m going to want you to remember something.”  I said, “Ok, honey, I’ll try to inscribe it into my little brain.” “Mom,” she said, a little exasperated, “It’s not your brain that’s little. It’s your bladder.”

Excerpt from Laphrodite's Guide to Mindful Menopause or the Adventures of a Baby Crone

Christmas in Tunisia

The horse's hooves thundered past me, kicking up ash and sparks from the roaring bonfire. A dozen jet black Arabian steeds, adorned with maroon leather saddles and bright festive pompoms, raced around again, as the audience ululated and drummed under the vast desert sky. Exhilarated, I caught a glimpse of my aunt’s ebony hair and gleaming teeth as she whizzed by, a blur of white thigh and proud black boot firmly in the stirrup.

Aunt Silvana reminds me of Lilith, Adam’s first wife. Since she would not lie down beneath him, Lilith was expelled from the Garden of Eden. First demonized as the untamed woman, Lilith is now known as the goddess of radical self-empowerment, according to astrologer Adama Sessay.

Silvana was the paragon of an independent woman living in Italy in the 60s. She only married once - her husband committed suicide by throwing himself out of a window just a couple of months after the wedding. Now ninety-three, living in a hospice facility outside of Milan, after traveling all over the world by herself, even though partially blind. She combined La Vita Dolce with La Vida Loca, racing her MGM around the dappled hillsides of Pozzol Groppo, drinking dry martinis, eating endless pasta, smoking cigarettes, and popping pills. Like Lilith, she lived fiercely, fully, and always on her own terms.

It had been a long, dusty bus ride from our plush hotel in Tunis to the full moon festival at the oasis. The bus had been crammed with people, packed with their kids, shopping, and other belongings, while muslim prayer music continuously wailed over the constant conversations, adding to the cacaphony.

Once there, we met a snake charmer who pulled a tongue-flicking cobra out of a woven basket. He casually draped the hooded serpent around my twelve-year-old neck, popped his red fez on my head, and laughed at my shocked face as he casually put his hot hand across my chest while tourists nonchalantly clicked their Kodaks. Nearby, women draped in saffron silks crouched by adobe ovens, busily kneading dough, their beaded bracelets jangling. These little loaves of bread were the only thing I’d eat, repulsed by the bowls of what my brother assured me was steaming camel hump meat.

The next day, we wandered around the bazaar, admiring the brass pots and copper trays, piles of oriental rugs, and enjoying the fragrances of cumin, cinnamon, and turmeric in the tangy air. Crowds of people jostled through the stalls, bartering furiously with the merchants, arms raised in the air, making magic gestures to conjure the right bargain. We entered a striped tent filled with an array of sparkling jewelry. I was entranced by a silver filigree ball that had a dangling Hamsa, the Hand of Fatimah. I had always loved jewelry, and the exquisite craftwork sang to me. I turned to ask my Dad if he would buy it for me.

“You like?” said a big bearded man in a cream robe, who pulled me over onto his lap. “How much for your daughter?” He asked my Dad, who just laughed. “I have many camels, many!” he insisted. As he squeezed me closer, I could smell his greasy skin. I pried myself off, somehow escaped the labyrinth of the market, and ran back to the hotel, furious.

“What’s wrong, my little monkey?” Aunt Silvana had found me brooding in the shade by the cool, quiet pool. As I poured out my rage, dismay, and disbelief, she simply held my hands, her dark brown eyes moist as she listened. “I’m glad you got away,” was all she said.

As we departed home to Luxembourg, there at the noisy airport, in a little souvenir kiosk, was the same Hamsa pendant on its fine silver chain. I counted out the last of my dinars, feeling smug and satisfied as I slipped the cool chain around my neck, filigree ball dangling on my chest, healing hand protecting my heart.

Just for Today

I let go of anger,

knowing I can gently express my inner needs.

I let go of worry,

choosing to trust that I have been heard.

I am deeply thankful

to a kind and benevolent universe.

I am focused on my work

in creative and productive ways.

I am kind and loving,

to myself and all beings.

(Adapted from the 5 principles of Reiki)

Troll Bridge

 

The Backpack

It was a cool fall day as I crunched along the red and gold leaves. It was not that I was lost, but more at a loss. I knew where I had come from, but up ahead were the crossroads, and I’d need to make a decision. Wearily, I shrugged off my backpack and sank into the little wooden bench on the side of the pathway. Time to do inventory.

It was a dark blue Janson backpack, which had belonged to my daughter in high school. The zippers felt sticky as I began rummaging through, discovering all that I had been secretly carrying for years.

In the outside pocket was the little pack of white lies, crumpled Kleenex already pre-stained with crocodile tears.

In the side pocket were all the things that I had lost or pawned for drug money - my dad's little gold travel alarm clock, encased in green leather; my mom’s platinum wedding ring, both of my grandmother’s sets of pearls, countless single earrings.

The other side contained all the locked diaries, stale letters, and old emails that I should not have read, but felt compelled to know, much to bitter regret.

I reached into a center pocket, but sliced my fingers on the sharp blades of blame, those barbed shurikins flung out in anger. They were protecting tiny packages of grief, each beautifully wrapped and tied with silk ribbons; no need to get into them just yet.

As big as it was, the medical scale - the kind you hate stepping on when you go to the doctors, the nurse pushing the weight more and more to your growing dismay, no matter what the numbers actually say - came out easily with a resounding thud.

Then the snarled ball of jealousy, a sickening chartreuse, not worth untangling the infidelities, the betrayals, the love triangles, the ins and outs of nonmonogamy, all the bad breakups despite good intentions.

So much shame came tumbling out, as acrid as yellowed cat piss, while I tipped the backpack upside down. Memories of shoplifting the gold and jade pin in elementary school, stealing rolls of quarters from Sunshine Farms for laundry money when in college, and all the times of driving drunk.

I scraped out the mouldy helplessness, the ineffective thoughts and prayers, the absolute despair at the news each day, whether it be Ukraine, Gaza, or L.A.

Now, for the main large pocket - I lifted out the gilded crown of thorns, studded with blood-red rubies, and noticed how easily guilt lay on my head, keeping me frozen in victimhood or too busy being a martyr. Too busy feeling guilty to do anything of consequence.

By now, the trash can by the bench was overflowing, as I dumped asthma inhalers and Sudafed, vestiges of allergies and illness, as well as the albatross of a failed business that kept haunting my dreams. I let go of each of my masks, the fake mustaches and the clown shoes, all the props of feeling the imposter.

The blue canvas backpack felt light, filled now only with stories of survival, a few bad puns, and those precious packages of grief. With a sigh of relief, I unfolded my astrology chart as a new map, checked my moral compass, and knew that I was headed in the right direction.

Creative Abundance - 10 Weeks to Greater Prosperity

 

Creative Abundance - 
10 Weeks to Greater Prosperity

Engage both your right brain and your left brain in an interactive 10-session program with Kayla Garnet Rose, Ph.D., Certified Hypnotherapist, designed to activate greater abundance and prosperity in your life. Includes:

• Vision Boards
• Money Meditations
• Helpful People Boxes
• Paths to Abundance

and other tools to continue to generate money, support, energy, love and all that you need to create abundance in your being.

This class is awesome! I took it last year and went on a 23-day vacation (to Brazil and Antarctica) this year! It works! - Lisa Carter, Santa Cruz, CA

The Buddy System Works!

Bring a friend for FREE to any Creative Abundance Lesson!

Plant Meditation

Path Meditation

Listen to Your Heart

New Review on Yelp

Kayla Garnet wanted to share a review of Kayla Garnet Rose, Ph.D. 9 288 Marianne M. Sacramento, CA 5/19/2025 Dr. Garnet is kismet, I'm grateful the reiki session met my needs and the mind fog is a thing of the past, just like a cocoon turns into a butterfly is a perfect depiction of feeling rejuvenated. My metamorphosis is on a roll :)) Thank You Dr. Garnet for listening to my my life's hiccup's. Read this review on Yelp Kayla Garnet Rose, Ph.D. 23 Reviews Categories: Hypnosis/Hypnotherapy, Reiki, Astrologers Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (831) 435-5182

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Moment on a Bench

Thoughts on Mindfulness

One of the beauties of mindfulness is that you don’t need to sign up for a class, buy special pants, or chunk out hours in your day. It can start by inviting yourself to be more aware, more present, and live with more intention. 

Mindfulness starts with awareness and choosing to focus and simplify. Despite our current tendencies for multitasking, the brain really only likes to be occupied with one thing at a time. 

Here is a focusing meditation that is super simple and easy to learn. Notice what comes up for you. Allow yourself to enjoy this state for as long as you like. This narrowing of focus while engaging the senses is extremely useful in creating periods of relaxed, focused concentration. It makes for a great walking meditation or game to play while waiting in a restaurant. 

Three, Two, One Meditation. 

 Begin by taking some deep breaths, eyes open or closed. 

 Focusing on three things that you can see while taking three deep breaths. This can mean either right before you if your eyes are open, patterns of light if your eyes are closed, or anything that you can see in your mind's eye. Feel free to use your imagination. If you're not a visual person, choose a different modality.

Next, become aware of 3 three sounds while taking 3 breaths - in the environment, in your body, or in your inner monologue. As you turn more inward, try to hear your breath or heartbeat. 

 Then, switch to three physical sensations with the 3 breaths. Often we begin by noticing what is uncomfortable - an itchy nose, an ache in the back. Bring your awareness to pleasant or simply neutral sensations - the weight of a shirt, a breeze on the cheek. 

 Now, repeat the same exercise, this time focusing only on: 

Two sights

Two sounds

Two sensations

 Last, go down to: 

One sight

One sound

One sensation

This is a wonderful practice, whether you are trying to fall asleep, concentrate on a task, or are bored driving while driving or in a meeting. :Youi'll notice feeling sharper, more relaxed, and completely present.

Fog Meditation

Sooner or Later

 

Sooner or Later

Sooner or later a person begins to notice that everything that happens to them is perfect, relates directly to who they are, had to happen, was meant to happen, plays its little role in fulfilling their destiny.

When they encounters difficulty, it no longer occurs to them to complain—they have learned to expect nothing, has learned that loss and frustration are a part of life, and come at their proper time—instead they asks themselves, why is this happening?… by which they means, what can I learn from this, how will it strengthen me, make me more aware? They let themselves be strengthened, lets themselves grow, just as they lets themself relax and enjoy (and grow) when life is gentle to them.

Strengthened by this simple notion, simple awareness, that life is perfect, that all things come at the proper moment and that they are always the perfect person for the situation they finds themself in, a person begins to feel more and more in tune with their inner nature, begins to find it easier and easier to do what they knows is right. All chance events appear to them to be intended; all intentional actions they clearly perceives as part of the workings of Chance.

Anxiety seldom troubles them; they knows their death will come at its proper moment; they know their actions are right and therefore whatever comes to pass as a result of them will be what was meant to happen. When they do feel anxiety, they realizes it is because of that thing they've been meaning to do but hasn’t been done, some unfulfilled relationship they've been aware of, but… They perceives the anxiety as a message that they'll have to stop hesitating if they wants to stay high… - Das Energie

Feeling Witchy

Chant for Self Esteem

 Chant for Self Esteem

By Luisah Teish

Earth, Water, Fire, and Air,

Within me all things are there.

The flesh on my bones is like the earth,

It’d soft and strong, full of self worth.

The blood that flows within my veins,

Is like the ocean, river, and rains.

My spirit soars, and takes me higher,

Here is where I keep my fire.

My breath and thoughts are like the air,

I can do anything, I can go anywhere.

Earth, Water, Fire, and Air,

Within me all things are there.

And so I pledge unto My Self:

Power, Love, Health, and Wealth.

Blessed Be.

3,2,1 Meditation