magic

Venus Rebirths as the Evening Star December 14, 2022

 

Did you know Venus has been hidden from Earth's view since September 3, 2022?

Venus is the planet of relationships, beauty, elegance, embodiment, harmony, feeling, desire, sensuality, love, material enjoyment, receptivity, gratitude, balance, and is often related to art, dance and music.

She is the second closest planet to the sun in our solar system. Her orbit around the sun creates a 5 petaled rose from the perspective of Earth. Her cycle takes 8 years to complete, during which there are periods where she is retrograde and direct, as well as periods where she is visible and non-visible. 

These phases have a direct impact on us here on Earth...

Venus began a new 8-year cycle in June 2020. It takes 19 months for Venus to complete a full cycle, and this happens 5 times over an 8 year period to create a five-petaled rose in the sky from Earth's perspective. What magic!

 

Venus Rose Path

 

We are at the end of a phase of inner transformation. After Venus was the morning star for 8 months (Jan - Sept) she was hidden from view, journeying through the underworld like the Sumerian goddess Inanna, the goddess of love, beauty, fertility, war, and wisdom.

The past three months have been a powerful time of initiation, a time to create a more solid foundation within ourselves, to come back to our practices and allow all that is not serving our highest alignment to be shed.

On Wednesday, Dec. 14 Venus will rebirth as the evening star and we will have our first glimpse of her after sunset. My feeling is this will be a time of abundance and grace, receiving the gifts of wisdom and power, the way we all do after moving through a transformation.

She’ll be visible as the evening star, shining in her brightness all the way until August, when she transitions again to the underworld on August 6, 2023 to be birthed as the morning star August 19, 2023,

This is a powerful time to reflect: 

What initiations have I gone through since September? 

What is transitioning in my life now?

How have I changed and grown? 

What am I taking with me?

What am I leaving behind?

If you're interested in diving more into astrological wisdom, goddess archetypes, ritual and ceremony, I invite you to consider joining us in this year's Way of the Priestess program

Our next cohort begins the day after the birth of Venus as the evening star, December 15th... there are still a few spaces to join us.

I've also opened my calendar to speak 1:1 with anyone considering the opportunity.

Book a free 30-min call and have the space to share about your dreams and visions and we can explore if it could be a good fit for you to join us on a path of beauty, devotion and service.

With love, 

Meredith


What does it mean to embody the Priestess in our everyday life?

It is to live a life connected to the divine in each moment. To bring devotion to our daily actions (cooking, cleaning, walking, writing, praying, meditating, talking) in remembrance of God/Goddess/all that is. It is to live in a state connected to breath and intuition, honoring the essence of the sacred feminine within. It is to allow what is, to forgive ourselves and others, and to see everyone around us as a soul, a higher consciousness living in a body.

To live as the Priestess is to see life happening for us, not to us. It is co-creating with life, and surrendering when God has a bigger plan.

It is becoming the vessel, emptying out in order to receive. It is communing with nature and the divine as one. It is becoming quiet enough inside to listen to the voice of intuition. It is to listen to others with compassion and hold space for letting go and new beginnings.

It is to express, feel, release, and honor the shadow that exists within and around us. It is to gaze at the stars, to write down our dreams, and honor the cycles of our body and the seasons of the year. It is to leave this world more beautiful than we found it. It is to midwife a shift in consciousness, to welcome a Golden Age, and emanate a frequency of love to all those around us on our path...

Lately for me it’s been waking up in the middle of the night to soothe my daughter. Playing with and caring for her in the early morning hours. Taking time each day to tune in and receive messages from the divine, to listen and strengthen that channel. Bringing food to new mothers. Holding space for clients to release deep rooted core beliefs from childhood trauma. Holding and speaking prayers for my friends. For this planet. For humanity. Singing to the bees.

Feeling my emotions and expressing them out in nature, letting my wild be expressed. Getting my hands in the earth. Tending to the roses. To the land I call home. Planting seeds and trees. Watering the gardens and witnessing new life.

Helping women heal the past life wounds they carry around being seen and sharing their voice. Showing up for my yoga practice, even when it feels hard. Even when some days it can only happen at 4 am. Feeling my pain.

Creating ritual with other women. Holding space for rites of passage. Resting when I bleed. Being by myself. Becoming more comfortable with my aloneness. Feeling my guides with me. Believing in their presence. Listening to the land. Taking action based on those messages. Communing with, singing to and blessing the waters. 

The role of the priestess is going to look different for each of us. For some, it’s simply about holding a frequency, a grid on our planet, an embodiment of divine love. For others it may be stepping into the role of healer, teacher, leader or guide. Either way, our presence is to become a vessel, and to be of service. What does the role of the priestess look like for you?

Enrollment is now open for the next cohort of the Way of the Priestess program.

I know so many of you sisters are already living this path... and if you long for support, community, sisterhood, and guidance along the way, I invite you to join us.

 

The Rebirth of Venus as the Evening Star on May 15, 2021

 
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Did you know Venus has been hidden from Earth's view since February 1, 2021?

Venus is the planet of relationships, beauty, elegance, embodiment, harmony, feeling, desire, sensuality, love, material enjoyment, receptivity, gratitude, balance, and is often related to art, dance and music.

She is the second closest planet to the sun in our solar system. Her orbit around the sun creates a 5 petaled rose from the perspective of Earth. Her cycle takes 8 years to complete, during which there are periods where she is retrograde and direct, as well as periods where she is visible and non-visible. 

These phases have a direct impact on us here on Earth...

Last year on June 3, 2020 Venus began a new 8-year cycle. It takes 19 months for Venus to complete a full cycle, and this happens 5 times over an 8 year period to create a five-petaled rose in the sky from Earth's perspective. What magic!

 
Venus Rose Path

Venus Rose Path

 

We are at the end of a phase of inner transformation. After Venus was the morning star for 8 months (June - Feb) she was hidden from view, journeying through the underworld like the Sumerian goddess Inanna, the goddess of love, beauty, fertility, war, and wisdom.

This has been a powerful time of initiation, a time to create a more solid foundation within ourselves, to come back to our practices and allow all that is not serving our highest alignment to be shed.

This Saturday, on May 15 Venus will rebirth as the evening star and we will have our first glimpse of her after sunset. My feeling is this will be a time of abundance and grace, receiving the gifts of wisdom and power, the way we all do after moving through a transformation.

She’ll be visible as the evening star, shining in her brightness all the way until the end of the year, when she transitions again to the underworld on Jan 2, 2022.

This is a powerful time to reflect: 

What initiations have I gone through since February? 

What is transitioning in my life now?

How have I changed and grown? 

What am I taking with me?

What am I leaving behind?

If you're interested in diving more into astrological wisdom, goddess archetypes, ritual and ceremony, I invite you to consider joining us in this year's Way of the Priestess Program

Our next cohort begins June 10th and there are still a few spaces to join us.

I've also opened my calendar to speak 1:1 with anyone considering the opportunity.

Book a free 45-min call and have the space to share about your dreams and visions and we can explore if it could be a good fit for you to join us on a path of beauty, devotion and service.

With love, 

Meredith


What does it mean to embody the Priestess in our everyday life?

It is to live a life connected to the divine in each moment. To bring devotion to our daily actions (cooking, cleaning, walking, writing, praying, meditating, talking) in remembrance of God/Goddess/all that is. It is to live in a state connected to breath and intuition, honoring the essence of the sacred feminine within. It is to allow what is, to forgive ourselves and others, and to see everyone around us as a soul, a higher consciousness living in a body.

To live as the Priestess is to see life happening for us, not to us. It is co-creating with life, and surrendering when God has a bigger plan.

It is becoming the vessel, emptying out in order to receive. It is communing with nature and the divine as one. It is becoming quiet enough inside to listen to the voice of intuition. It is to listen to others with compassion and hold space for letting go and new beginnings.

It is to express, feel, release, and honor the shadow that exists within and around us. It is to gaze at the stars, to write down our dreams, and honor the cycles of our body and the seasons of the year. It is to leave this world more beautiful than we found it. It is to midwife a shift in consciousness, to welcome a Golden Age, and emanate a frequency of love to all those around us on our path...

Enrollment is now open for the next cohort of the Way of the Priestess program.

I know so many of you sisters are already living this path... and if you long for support, community, sisterhood, and guidance along the way, I invite you to join us.

 

103 | Ceremony, Seasons & the Modern Witch with Gabriella Takutzima

 
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As time slows down during quarantine I’ve been so much more observant of the world outside my doorstep. I’ve noticed how the flowers change each day, which plants the bees are most drawn to, new life sprouting from seeds, and how alive and changing the natural world really is when we are still enough to witness.

Today’s episode with Gabriella Takutzima takes us inside the practices of honoring the seasons and cycles of Mother Earth, the importance of ceremony and how to harness our innate inner magic by connecting more deeply with the natural world…

In this episode we discussed:

  • Why do we practice ceremony? Where does it come from?

  • Why is it so important for the modern woman?

  • Shamanism + Paganism and what drew Gabriella to these paths

  • Earth Embodiment + Women's Wellness

  • How connection to our Bodies and Desires is the ultimate act of Worship to the Goddess

  • Connection of our cycles to the Seasons

  • Witchcraft + Women's Magic - the importance of the Witch in modern society

  • How to reclaim our inner Witch + harness our innate magic

  •  Circling with the Seasons - Gabriella’s course to attune to the Wheel of the Seasons as women

Stay in Touch with Gabriella:


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Gabriella Takutzima is a Pagan ceremonialist, animist, and an initiated Dianic Witch. She worships the Goddess and celebrates her Celtic heritage as she walks the Wheel of the Year. She is also a BIrth Keeper, Massage Therapist, Energyworker, and Wife. She seeks to serve Life by serving Women in the passages of blood, birth, and death. She is 25 years young, and has had the privilege of hosting/participating in ceremonies for five years, including sacred plant ceremonies. She has been studying the tradition of healing and ritual from both her Elders in the Craft as well as from a Marekame Medicine Man from the Huichol Tribe. She is devoted to carrying on Earth religion as the Ancient Ones once did. She and her husband are starting a business in Oregon to grow herbal medicines for Women’s health, as well as crafting Yoni Stools, and will be creating a worship space to gather the community to heal and learn. Gabriella is passionate about praising the Earth, celebrating the Seasons, connecting to the Ancestors

 

038 | Relationships, New Motherhood & The Role of the Priestess with Katie Burke

 
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Just days ago this amazing woman, Katie Burke gave birth to her second child. I was lucky to sit down with Katie in early September when she was 32 weeks pregnant to hear about her role as a Priestess, the birth of her first child, and navigating marriage, a business, and family all while being on a personal growth journey of ascension and awakening.

Sitting down to talk with Katie felt like reuniting with an old friend. I decided to share the video of our conversation today as well so you can get a behind-the-scenes look into our intimate conversation.

In this episode we discussed:

  • The magic of conceiving and giving birth to her first child
  • What it means (to Katie) to be a Priestess
  • Moving through fear and doubt around claiming the role of the Priestess
  • Mary Magdalene, Isis and the guides that came to Katie during her awakening 
  • How to navigate your personal growth while being in a marriage
  • Tips on making it through hard times in a relationship while being on an awakening path together
  • How to connect with your guides and open your own channels of communication with divine guidance and intuition
  • What's to come in Katie's business 

Stay in touch with Katie:


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Formally a digital marketing guru and graduate student of strategic communication, Katie Burke began her Divine Feminine Awakening and remembering when she conceived her daughter. This journey of self-healing and radical self-worth led to the Modern Priestess Movement and her own self-actualization.

Katie administers the Feminine expression of Christ Consciousness coming from the spiritual traditions of Mary Magdalene, and the Ancient Egyptian Teachings of Isis & Hathor.  She currently is pregnant with her second child and enjoying the summer with her daughter and leading bi-monthly meditations with her partner, Ben Burke. 

 

025 | Astrology, Asteroids & Feminine Archetypes with Rebecca Farrar

 

"For me, astrology is about enchantment...When I am looking at someone's birth chart, I am looking at their soul's patterning. I am looking at the moment they were born and the heavens froze, and this special moment becomes someone's soul process." ~Rebecca

If you are a sensitive being like me you are probably feeling all the energies around what's happening in the news, the world and our country.

At one time or another, you've also probably turned to astrology to learn more about how what's happening in the stars reflects upon what's happening in the world, and within ourselves.

I'm happy to introduce you to Rebecca Farrar today, an astrologer who I recently interviewed for the Rising Women Leaders podcast.

In one of Rebecca's recent posts, she shared about how Uranus began a year long dance with Jupiter at the end of 2016 which will offer some astrological insight into this coming year.

"The themes of Jupiter revolve around philosophy, morality, travel, celebration, or success. In its more shadow expression it leans towards excessiveness, over-consumption, self-involvement, and hyper-morality. In relationship to Uranus it can invoke a revolutionary spirit against things that may not seem moral or non-humanitarian. (I think we have all felt this energy building since the 2016 U.S. election.)"

Today's episode will take you into the world of astrology, asteroids and feminine archetypes and how you can use them  to gain deeper insight into yourself and the world.

"Astrology tells me about their evolution as a soul, it tells me about where their challenges are, what their relational patterns are, how they can self-soothe with their emotions, how they can take care of themselves better. It gives a sense of enchantment with the self, letting you understand you are a part of this huge cosmic thing and you have an important role to play..."

There is a very specific reason you are here. Consciousness is shifting so quickly at this time and you are needed...

In this episode you'll discover:

  • What is the sun, moon and rising sign and what do they mean about yourself?
  • The magic and mystery of the witch and priestess feminine archetypes 
  • Embracing our weird & wild ways
  • How feminine archetypes show up in astrology 
  • How Rebecca uses the asteroids in her birth chart readings and how it affects our charts 
  • What to look out for in 2017 and how astrology is affecting the times we are in - calling us into social justice and revolution
  • How Rebecca uses ritual in her life to honor different times of the year and phases of the moon
  • Rebecca's journey with self-worth, facing fears, leaving a  full-time job and allowing herself to claim authority in her field and in her life

To learn more about Rebecca's birth chart readings, astro-locality readings, and to join her email list with tips and rituals for the full and new moon, visit her website, wildwitchwest.com. 


Rebecca M. Farrar, M.A. is an astro-priestess, wild woman, writer, and lover who lives in San Francisco (or Man Franpsycho as she likes to call it). She provides astrological guidance with a down-to-Earth approach utilizing her studies on the evolution of consciousness and psychology. Before coming out of the "broom" closet, she worked for more than a decade in PR and marketing and had brief forays as TV reporter, speed dating hostess, spokesmodel, yoga instructor, and world traveler. In 2013, she completed her M.A. In Philosophy at the California Institute of Integral Studies. Her thesis, titled “Stargazing: Re-enchantment Through Language,” combines philology, consciousness studies, and enchantment with the stars. (Warning: She will talk your ear off if you ask about it.) When not staring at her transits she can be found "force" cuddling her cat, posting on Instagram, or curled up with a good book. Read more on her site: www.wildwitchwest.com


Want to win a free 75-minute coaching session with our host?

Rising Women Leaders is running a New Year Giveaway between now and February 11, 2017 for a free 75-minute online coaching session with our host, Meredith Rom.

In this video call we will take the space to reflect on what you want to cultivate for the new year, how you want to show up to take care of yourself, your spiritual practice, and your service and contribution to the world.

Meredith will also answer any questions you have about starting or growing your business, branding, leading workshops, podcasting, finding your voice, or crafting and sharing your story.

To enter, write us a review on iTunes!

  • Follow  this link
  • Click the blue button on the side bar that says, "View in iTunes"
  • Click "Subscribe" under the Podcast Image then Click "Ratings and Reviews"
  • Click "Write a Review" where you can choose your rating, write your review and click "Submit"(you may be asked to login with your Apple ID)

You can also search for "Rising Women Leaders" in iTunes on your desktop or on the Podcast app on your iPhone to write a review.  

Positive reviews on iTunes will support our community to grow, thrive and reach the women who are seeking the powerful wisdom shared by the ladies featured on this show.

The winner will be announced on the podcast just after February 11! Thank you for participating, Good luck!!

 

018 | Love & Magic: A Book Reading with Meredith Rom

 

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Have you ever found that it's in the moments that you are totally happy and content with yourself, at peace with exactly who you are and what you have in your life, that you begin to manifest your desires?

Today I'm sharing one of the more fun and playful readings from my book,  Synchronicity. 

I was sitting in a chai shop having just arrived in a new town when a man walked in wearing all white with red puja dust on his third eye.  

I almost instantly fell in love with him... In this story you'll hear how I met Shankara, one of the main characters in the book.  You'll also hear more about the holy mountain of stillness and light, Mount Arunachala in the town of Tiruvannamalai, India.

To pre-order your copy of Synchronicity,  follow the kickstarter campaign here.  Specials thanks to the Crowdfunding Consultants at StartMotionMEDIA for helping me fundraise!

With love, 
Meredith

 

24 Hours of **Magic**

Click the image to watch the video!

Click the image to watch the video!

Over the last month I've ridden the waves of fear and trust as I prepared to start the publishing process to share my book with the world.

...And since launching a campaign yesterday, I am humbled and AMAZED by the outpouring of love and support this project has received...

Check out the latest stats to see how far we've come in only 24 hours.

This book was written to help you take bigger leaps to stand up and share your gifts with the world...

If there's anything I've learned in the last day, it's that we're all in this together.  
You can now watch the project video and be one of the first to join the community ready to experience my new book, Synchroncity.

Thank you to all of you who have helped me cross this threshold.

With immense love & gratitude, 
Meredith

P.S. Your help makes all the difference!
Please like, comment, and share this post on facebook to continue spreading the word.  In your post please include the project short link http://kck.st/2dTEZpS so people know where to go to view the project!

Yoga, Kirtan & Book Readings!

11/4 ~ Yin Yoga, Tea, Book Reading & Celebration! in honor of finishing my book, 'Synchronicity' 6:30 pm at The dhyana Center

10/27
Kirtan! 6:30 pm at Alive Yoga in Sebastopol

10/24 ~ 
Kirtan & Book Reading at the Dhamma Pad 8 pm in Berkeley, CA


Please contact me if you'd like to invite me for a book reading, kirtan or yoga event during the campaign :)

The Secret to Finding a Four-Leaf Clover (and Manifesting Other Desires...)

 

I remember growing up and feeling envious of how my mom had a way with finding four leaf clovers.  

I sometimes spent hours in a patch of grass looking for those four leaves, perfectly bound together.  I would immediately grasp my fingers around anything that looked close. But I didn't find one.

It wasn't until one day I met a British man in India who told me the secret.

"The secret is you have to believe it's there waiting for you..."

He handed my friend a four leaf clover, then crouched down again and moments later stood up with another one for me. 

I later thought, "Isn't that the secret to life, and really anything we want to manifest?"  We have to believe with our whole heart that it is possible.  

We have to believe the universe is on our side, even conspiring in our favor to help us manifest what we want and need...

But months passed and I still didn't find one.

"I believe!" I told myself, but I continued to be disappointed.  

Then finally, I released the idea that I ever needed to find one. 


I found myself at the headwaters of Mt. Shasta a few weeks later sitting in a patch of grass.  I looked down, and there it was.

There was my first four-leaf clover waiting for me.

It was that moment I realized I needed to release all attachments to the outcome in order to manifest my desires.

I've learned this is an essential part of manifestation.  

When I believe, trust, and let go, I am met with exactly what I need.  

Again and again, I've seen this play out in my life.

I live for moments like finding that first four-leaf clover.  It is in these moments of pure synchronicity that I feel most connected.  

That's when I feel like there is a higher power...something greater at work that is guiding me and protecting me.

That is when I know I can offer up my fears, my need to control, and trust in the universe.

This is why I chose Synchronicity as the title of my book. The book tells the stories of the chain of events I experienced in India that linked together in an almost too perfect way.  

And it was those synchronicities that brought a deeper meaning to my life. 

I've spent the last few weeks revising my final manuscript to prepare for publishing.  I have some really exciting news to share (in about two weeks) and I can't wait to give you a chance to be one of the first people to get your hands on a copy so that you can experience this magic for yourself...

With love,
Meredith

P.S.  Click here to see the collection of four leaf clovers I have found since learning this secret...

 

What an Elephant Taught me About my Fear

 

In the weeks before I left for my trip to India I met a man in San Francisco named Josh. 

We immediately connected over our passion for music, tea, yoga, and astrology.  We spent long mornings chatting together in the three days I had in the city, and in the weeks that followed, we continued our conversation through letters and emails. 

I knew I could have had a promising romance in the States if I stayed, but I chose to follow my dreams, bought my ticket to India and left for Amma’s ashram in Kerala.

To my surprise, two weeks after my arrival, I found a message waiting from Josh in my inbox:

“I bought a flight to visit you!!  I’ll be arriving in just a few weeks.”

I was flattered, but also shocked — “You’re traveling halfway around the world to see me??” 

I had enjoyed our romantic emails in the weeks before I left, but I knew in my heart I was making the trip to India for myself and no one else.  I had so much to discover there and part of me knew I needed to do it on my own.

But then I thought of leaving the safety of the ashram premises (where I had been safely meditating). I hadn’t been outside of the ashram yet and I had no idea how I would feel navigating the trains and buses around the country by myself.  “Wouldn’t it be nice to have this man with you for a sense of security?”

I knew it was safer, more secure, and I was scared of the unknown. 

So I replied, “I’m excited you’re coming!”  Over the days that followed we talked about riding an elephant into the sunset together and watching the full moon rise over the beach on his birthday...

A week before Josh arrived, I felt a strong desire to go out exploring on my own.  I took a train to a nearby beach town and every step of the way surprised myself at how at home I felt making all the decisions by myself.

On the beach a huge elephant walked by on a nearby path.  I went closer to admire it when a man leading it asked, “Do you want to go for a ride on Ganesha?”

“A ride? Me, by myself? Up there?” I thought. I remembered my dreams of riding an elephant with Josh tightly holding my hand as we watched the sunset.

Then for a moment I imagined myself up there on the elephant all by myself, with the breeze on my face, looking down at the world around me. It felt liberating. 

Josh probably wouldn’t mind if I did it on my own, I thought. “Yes, please!” 

I ran closer and waited while one of the Indian men moved his hand over the side of Ganesha’s face and whispered a few words in his ear. He patted Ganesha’s front leg and the elephant bent down. The Indian man advised me to step on his hoof so he could hoist me up. 

I followed his directions and found myself belly down on top of the elephant trying to swing my leg over to the other side. The little hairs on his enormous body brushed against my face.

When I successfully swung my leg to the other side, I sat up slowly, finding my balance. The Indian men were laughing and clapping as I looked around, a little shocked by the new perspective.

The ground was a good ten feet away. I ran my hands over his grey, wrinkly skin. As I found my composure, the shakiness I felt at first began to dissipate.

I sat with poise and confidence like an Indian queen greeting the villagers of her kingdom. 

Then I thought, "I don’t actually need Josh to be here with me to feel safe." I realized a big part of the reason I had initially been so happy to have Josh come visit me was because I had been afraid of being on my own.

The prospect of having a man with me while I traveled to a new country felt safer. But now that I had found my own way from the ashram to this town, I felt fine.

I felt more than fine—I felt confident in myself.

I didn’t need Josh to be there with me to feel safe. I didn’t need him there to ride the elephant, and I didn’t necessarily need him there to travel with me around India.

I still felt excited to see him, but an old, limiting belief had been lifted. I no longer felt a need to depend on a man outside of myself. 

The more steps the elephant took, the more I realized I wasn’t carrying any fear at all, just excitement.

I felt awake, present, and invincible.

I realized that doing the things that scared me brought me fully into the present moment. Once I was doing it, there didn’t seem to be any more fear.

Even more than that, I realized in doing the things that scared me, I walked away with more confidence. I reminded myself, The only way to get rid of my fears, is to simply go out and do what I'm afraid of. 

I had spent so much of my life in fear. I was afraid to speak up in class, afraid to travel on my own, I was even afraid of driving on highways. I always wondered, "How do I gain more confidence?"

I was so busy avoiding the things that scared me that I had never learned the pathway to more confidence was simply doing what scared me.

When I did that, the fear became more familiar, and less scary. Each fear I faced gave me more confidence to face another. 

Deep within myself, I knew if I were to travel on my own for the rest of my time in India, I’d be okay. I needed to ride the elephant by myself to discover that. 

I lowered down closer to the elephant’s ear and whispered, “Thank you Ganesha for clearing this path for me. Thank you for this new wisdom.” 

To find out what happened next you’ll have to keep reading in my book.  Stay tuned to find out how you can receive an early copy...

In the meantime, I’m curious, what fears or limiting beliefs have you been holding?  And what action could you take to live more fully beyond your fears? I'd love to hear in the comments below.

With love,
Meredith

 

What My Cat Taught Me About Abundance

 
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Last December I put on my high heels and red lipstick to go to a fancy holiday party at a beautiful modern home in Penngrove, CA.

However, this wasn't just any normal holiday party.  This was a Toastmasters holiday party, a public speaking group I have been a part of for the last year.  Three people were prepared to give a speech that night, and one of them was me. 

After much practicing in the back field of my home, I felt ready.  I was excited.  As I put on my jewelry and curled my hair, I reflected back on how much I had grown in just one year.

I remembered standing terrified looking out at the audience at a podium in front of thirty or forty people the first time I stood up to speak in front of this group.  Despite the fear of that first moment, I knew I was ready to grow, ready to face the fear, and over the last year, I have.  

Public speaking has become more and more familiar, and through putting myself on center stage, I have learned so much about myself and the craft of captivating an audience.

Over the last year, I realized there was a girl inside of me, ready to be SEEN, to be LOUD, ready to STAND UP and share her voice.

I was encouraged every step of the way by this amazing group of people of all ages and from all walks of life.  I delivered my speech, "The Gifts of Giving" at the Holiday party that nightand was on a total high.

Then just a few weeks ago, I was looking at the voice memos on my phone and discovered my boyfriend Michael had recorded the whole thing!

At first I felt shy about sharing it, but realized this magical story of giving and receiving could be inspiring for you to break free from scarcity and believe in the beauty, magic, and abundance all around you.  So here I am sharing it with you...

The speech is only 8 minutes long, so I hope you take some time to listen above.  You'll also learn how I ended up with a magical cat on my doorstep...

Warmly, Meredith

Photo by In Her Image Photography

 

Where the magic happens...

 
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Do you ever miss staying up late at night talking with your friends at sleepovers when you were younger? I remember when one of my clients told me about her dream to have close girlfriends again.  She missed the connection she had in her relationships to other women when she was younger.  As she grew up, and had a child of her own, she saw it was getting harder and harder to find the time for those kinds of friendship and connection.

This client was doing amazing work to make changes in her life, in her relationship to food, in growing her business and in taking better care of herself.

She saw that often she would turn to food for comfort was when she felt a loss of connection and friendship, so she was ready to cultivate more women friends in her life.

She was taking time out of her day to get really clear on what she wanted and needed.  Together, we made a plan, and I gave her an assignment to start a conversation with a new woman at the gym, and reach out to an old friend who recently moved to her area.

The next time we talked, I asked, "So how did it go for you?"

She replied, "Meredith, you aren't going to believe what happened.  I swear, this manifestation stuff really works.  So, you know how I was telling you about how I wanted to be closer to women like I was when I was younger?  Having slumber parties and girl time?"

"Yes..." 

"Well, just this week on Monday night, all three of my clients cancelled their appointments.  I suddenly had an open schedule.  My son was staying with his father for the night, and I thought, 'I'll just have an evening to myself...'  Then out of no where, a friend I haven't talked to in years called me up and said, 'My husband's out of town, and I treated myself to a night at a beautiful lodge in Marin.  Would you like to join me here?'"

"Amazing!  So did you?"

"Yes! and suddenly I was swimming in a gorgeous pool, my friend was treating me to dinner, and we stayed up late slumber-party style holding hands in bed sharing our dreams and desires.  It was EXACTLY what I wanted!" 

We both laughed and laughed at the amazement of what happened, but deep down, I wasn't surprised.

Ask, "What does my heart want, above all else?"  Then begin loving yourself and watch the fears, self-doubt and negative beliefs clear away.

The magic happens where courage and self-love intersect.

She had taken the time to connect to what she really wanted, what that would feel like, she was loving herself first and clearing away her fears and suddenly, her desires were showing up on her doorstep.

If you're ready to figure out what YOU want, I invite you to join my #LiveYourVision free training that begins today!

The free training gives a taste of the upcoming online course I'm leading in February, Vision.

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Vision is an 8-week online course for women ready to shift their thoughts and manifest their desires (enrollment and more details open January 19).  The program includes weekly group coaching calls, training videos, audio lectures, handouts, and the personal 40-Day Vision meditation practice I use for manifestation.

Meditation has been a huge part of my life and I'll be sharing the most powerful tools I've learned to shift my beliefs and manifest my desires in the free training.

When you sign up, each day for 8 days you will receive a daily action, video, insight or story to guide you on your path to #LiveYourVision.  

My intention is that these 8 days provide tools for you to connect to an innate love within yourself and a relationship to your inner guide that will benefit you throughout your entire life. 

(Optional) You're also welcome to post your photos of the daily actions on instagram for a chance to win a free spot in Vision!

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Here's your first daily action:

The first challenge is to create an altar and take a picture of your sacred space!

Instagram Challenge Rules:

  • Sign up here
  • Follow me @meredithrom
  • Watch your email inbox or my instagram post each morning with your challenge for the day.
  • Post your photos with the hashtag #LiveYourVision and let me know with a shout-out to @meredithrom
  • After the 8 days I will choose one lucky woman to join us for a free spot in the upcoming online course, Vision.  Simple!

One lucky winner will win a free spot in Vision.

I'll be posting a new picture and action step everyday on instagram until January 18.~

I can’t wait to see your pictures!

With love, Meredith

 

Ready to Live Your Vision? The Free Training is Here...

 
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Happy New Year!  I hope this holiday break provided an opportunity for you to rest and restore and get excited for 2016... I've been gearing up to lead my online course, Vision, for the third time since I first launched it in 2014.  Every time I lead this course I see amazing results in the women around creating a daily devotional practice and making courageous changes in their lives.

Vision is an 8-week online course that includes a 40-day meditation practice to help each woman create a meditation practice that is sustainable and enjoyable.

Enrollment will be open from January 19th to February 2nd and the course will run from February 3 to March 30, 2016.  

In the course, I release weekly content full with videos, handouts and audios on a new theme each week.  I have a facebook community and lead weekly group coaching calls in an intimate setting to create a feeling of sisterhood among the group.  I provide personal mentorship with the women in the program and even have some opportunities this year for one-on-one guidance and support.

This is a great opportunity to start the year off on the right foot with a daily practice of ritual, self-care, self-love as well as guidance on how to take grounded action and face your fears to manifest your deepest desires for 2016.

In honor of the New Year, I've created a free training called Live Your Vision that I would love you to be a part of!  The training includes 4 free videos as well as 8 daily actions to learn more about meditation, manifestation and a chance to see if you'd like to join us in the online course, Vision.

The free training begins in one week on Monday, January 11.  When you sign up, you will be sent a daily action to your inbox with all the free training materials. You'll also be notified of when Vision enrollment opens and be offered a chance to win a free spot in the course.

You can now join the free training here! With love, Meredith

 

What I've learned about intuition

 
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I see many people in our society numbing themselves out. Whether it be through alcohol, food, drugs, caffeine, painkillers or antidepressants – many of us are trying to distract ourselves from what is really going on.

This was the case for me for a long time.  When I felt sad, I went to sugar.  When I had pain in my body, I took an advil or had a glass of wine to distract myself.  When I had a project due that I didn't want to finish, I'd drink caffeine to push through it.

Our bodies are full with wisdom and they send us very clear signals when something needs to shift in our lives.

We develop pain, skin problems, or other symptoms when something is not right.  It is our job to listen to those signals instead of pushing them away.

I believe intuition is so important because it guides us closer to our purpose.  When we numb out the wisdom of our bodies, we lose our connection to divine guidance, we forget why we are here, and as a result can easily suffer from depression or feelings of meaninglessness.

However:

When we use our intuition, we are guided to our highest potential as beings and are able to live more meaningful, synchronous and connected lives.

What I’ve learned about intuition: 

1. Your intuition lives in your body 

That’s why we need practices like yoga, dance, active meditation, running, and movement to access it.  You need to form a connection to your body, take care of it through food, baths, showers, body butter, and be there with it during the difficult times too.

2. Your intuition can be very quiet 

It takes being with the busy mind and having a mindfulness practice to be still enough to listen to that inner voice.  The rational mind will come up with all kinds of reasons to do something, but a little inner voice or feeling will tell you when it’s not right.

3.  You need to stop inputting information to digest the information that is already there

When you’re on the phone, the computer, reading magazines, or even books, you are inputting new information into the brain.  However, in order to access the intuitive state, you need to stop inputting new information to digest the information that’s already there.

That’s why going to a yoga class, going on a run, being in nature, or meditating are the best ways to access your intuition.

Those are the times you turn off distractions and you are solely with your body, your thoughts and your spirit.

If you feel called to join us with a group of likeminded women to explore the power of your intuition, join us in this year’s Way of the Priestess Initiation Program.

Love & light, Meredith

 

How I found my ideal job, relationship and home in less than 3 months

 

A few weeks ago I finished leading my first online group coaching program for women.  It was six months long of insightful connection and sisterhood.  What I gained most from it though, was the confidence to know I could turn my dreams into reality.    I remember writing my intentions in January earlier this year, "I am breaking through my blocks and fears to create an amazing 6 month group program for women.  I am strong, confident and courageous.  I am taking steps closer to my vision everyday."

I read these words out loud to myself everyday for 40 days after my meditation, and within that timespan I wrote the curriculum, created the content, and implemented a plan to market it.

It included 12 phone calls, each with its own topic and handouts on what I felt called to speak about most.  I included everything from Brene Brown to green smoothies, the 5 love languages, creating abundance, and my personal favorite, a 40-day spiritual practice for manifestation.

When I think back on my life just three years ago, I see how far I have really come...  I arrived back to the states after 6 months of traveling in India totally lost.  I was staying as a guest at friend's houses without a place to live, without a job, without a community  and without a great love in my life.  On top of that, I had gained weight while I was traveling, felt heavy and lethargic, and was totally addicted to sugar.  However, meditation was my one priority in my life. Those times of stillness and silence pulled me through.  

In my meditation, I realized how fearful my thoughts really were and I decided to consciously change them.  I chose a set of very simple positive and peaceful words to replace my fearful thoughts, and repeated them in my mind every time fearful thoughts arose.

Intuitively, I knew my thoughts had created my reality, and I needed to change my thoughts to change my life.

I eventually found a small cabin to sublet for 3 months behind a home in Berkeley, and spent days in solitude writing out my dreams.  I wrote of teaching yoga, of living in a house with other meditators, of falling in love, of clearing up my skin, losing the weight I had gained traveling and of earning enough money to fully sustain myself.

I didn't know how it would happen, but I stayed true to my vision, and I fully believed it was possible.

Little by little, I found the resources to improve my health and my skin, a friend I had known a year before moved back into town and invited me to start a community house based around Vipassana meditation, I faced my fears of teaching yoga, I lost the excess weight, earned the money I needed to pay all my bills, and on top of all that, I fell in love.  

Since then I have been a dedicated believer of the law of attraction and manifestation because I experienced it firsthand.

Through meditation, I shifted my thoughts, my beliefs, and I manifested what I wanted and needed most in my life.

Now, I'm excited to share the teachings I have learned over the last 3 years in my free video training, "6 Steps for Manifestation."    I share more about my personal story and how I began to shift my thoughts, as well as the 6 steps I use today to manifest my desires.

Are you ready to shift your reality?  If so, I invite you to join me in this free video training.  Click play below.

 
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Love,

Meredith

What does yoga have to do with a good parking spot?

 
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Last week I went to a networking event near the financial district of San Francisco.  If any of you have tried to find parking in San Francisco - you know it's not always easy.  My boyfriend and I found a spot 4 long blocks away from the bar where the event was being held, but it was getting cold, and there was a huge hill between where we were and where we were going.  I turned to him and said, "We're getting a better parking spot." 

I closed my eyes and asked the universe to provide us with a parking spot on the right side of the road right next to the bar, and sure enough, we found one, right in front of the bar.  I thanked my angels, and whoever else grants the divine parking spot gifts, and went into the event.

While I was there, I met a girl who was telling me about how she didn't like her current job.  Instead of hearing more about what she didn't like, I asked, "What does your ideal job look like?"

She rolled her eyes and replied, "Anything! Any job where I can go into work and have my own desk and a stable salary would be better than what I have now." 

I could just hear Marie Forleo in my head saying, "Three years in the future is going to come around whether you want it to or not, so why not consciously design it?  Take a look at your life and ask, are you living by design or by default?" 

Having a vision helps you know where you are going and what to ask for.  If you don't think and feel what it is you need, the universe won't know how to bring it to you. 

I asked her, "Do you know anything about manifestation?  About changing your thoughts to think positively and visualize what you really want and need in your life?" 

At first she looked confused and said, "No, not really."  But then she paused and said, "Unless you mean, like what I do when I am looking for a good parking spot... I used to only look for parking spots three blocks away from where I was going, then I finally realized, how will I ever get the parking spot I really want unless I show up to look for it?  That's when I started getting good parking spots." 

I said, "That's EXACTLY what I"m talking about!"  I laughed and pointed outside and said, "Look that's my car, right outside the bar!"

She laughed and said, "That's my car, right in front of yours!" 

In busy San Francisco, we managed to get the best parking spots exactly where we needed to be.

So often we avoid asking the universe for what we really want because we are afraid of rejection or disappointment.  But if you don't bother ASKING or GOING FOR IT then you never even give yourself or the universe the chance to make it happen!

So what does yoga have to do with a good parking spot?

Yoga clears away our thoughts, brings us into clarity about our intention, holds the space for us to ask for what we really want and opens us up to receive it.  Tweet it

I mean, how do you think I found all these four leaf clovers? 

 

So I'd love to know, where in YOUR life are you living by default?  What would it look like for you to consciously design your life the way you want it?

In order to get where we want to be in life, we need to get clear on what we want.  What is it you want?  What's holding you back from going for it?  I'd love to hear your thoughts below in the comments!

xoxo Meredith

How I made a CHOICE and found my calling

 
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When I started college I had no idea what I wanted to devote my entire life to.  I knew I was passionate, artistic, ambitious and organized, but I didn't know what career to choose.

It was actually pretty daunting to have lived so long without very much choice and then be expected to make the biggest decision that would determine the course of my life at age 18. It felt crazy for me to choose a major just because I had reached that age and the time had come for me to choose.

So I started asking older and wiser people for advice about what they majored in for college and how that played out in their life.

The advice I received again and again was, "Choose based on what you love to do.  The rest will figure itself out."  Many people shared with me that what they chose to study when they were young didn't determine the rest of their life. Many also shared they wished they had chose what they loved rather than choosing out of other people's expectations for them.

I was relieved, because I had many talents and interests and simply needed more time to try them all.  I wanted to find what really felt right.  I didn't just want to prepare myself for a job, I wanted to find my calling. 

Marianne Williamson says, "A job is an exchange of energy in which you do a material task and someone provides money in exchange.  A calling, however, is an organic field of energy that emerges from the deepest aspects of who you are.  It is the fulfillment of what God has created you to be and do.

You have a calling simply because you are alive. 

You are on this earth with divine purpose: to rise to your highest creative possibility, expressing all that you are to make the universe a more beautiful place."

I felt this from a young age, that I had a calling and needed to give myself the time and space to ask and discover what it was.

It wasn't until after college I really started asking the bigger questions and had a desire to move to San Francisco.  That intuitive move led me to meet one of my very first spiritual teachers (Amma), which led me to become a yoga teacher and travel to India.

Sometimes my ego would enter and say, "You need to just get a job.  You need to get real."  But I knew my soul was bigger than that.  I did try different jobs and internships but was always called back to ask about this "something bigger."

So how did I make a choice and find my calling?

I learned to:

1. Listen to my intuition.  With each job I tried, I noticed how it felt to be doing that job.  I asked, "Do I want to be doing this for the rest of my life?"

2. Give myself time and space to ask the bigger questions without a need for an answer.  I learned the answers only come when I am ready for them.

Even though I chose a major of what I loved to do (photography), my life continued to unfold.  My own discomfort in my body, exhaustion and anxiety led me to yoga and my own healing through nutrition led me to become a health coach.

Life unfolded the path for me and with commitment to asking the bigger questions, I found the fulfillment that only living your calling can fulfill. 

So maybe you are just stepping out into life on your own and want to discover this deeper calling, or maybe you have been in a job for years and don't yet feel like you've found that larger sense of purpose...

Wherever you are in your career, remember: It's never too late to be who you were born to be. {tweet it} 

If you feel called to create the space for yourself to ask these bigger life questions, join me tonight for"Purpose" the final call in a series of three teleseminars.

I'll be sharing more of my personal insights, stories and inspiration, as well as leading a guided writing exercise for each person to open to their unique purpose.  You can sign up here to get the access code and a recording of all three calls (Magic, Power and Purpose) in your inbox.

You'll also hear more details about my upcoming group program where I will be guiding a group of women to open to their purpose and create a new vision for their life.

With love, Meredith