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How to Connect with the Moon Phases

When you step away from your calendar and lists of “todos” to pay attention to the cycles of the moon it allows room for magic to enter your life and increases your ability to connect with something much larger than yourself.

Below I share the energy related to each moon phase and how you can set an intention and work on making it a reality during the moon cycle.

You do not have to set an intention with each cycle. It is really powerful to simply notice each phase. It really helps you get out of your head and into the present moment. 

Learn how to honor yourself and connect to the moon’s phases:

New Moon

The New Moon is when you can’t see the moon in the sky. It is always in the same astrological sign as the sun. This is considered the beginning of the lunar cycle. A good time for setting new intentions and starting new endeavors.

Take some time for yourself on the new moon (or the 3 days after) and relax. Maybe 5 minutes or 30 minutes. If you go outside, notice the air, the sky, the ground.

Ask yourself if there is an intention that you would like to set for the next month. Maybe it is a way of being, doing more or less of something, or even drawing something into your life like more love or career opportunities.

Write this intention down, speak it out if you desire, and envision it. Feel it.

Waxing Moon

The Waxing Moon is the phase after the new moon and is also called First Quarter Moon.

During this phase of the moon growing and expanding, take some time to imagine how it would feel if your intention was a reality in your life and then take inspired action on making it a reality.

The moon will be growing from the right side.

Try this yoga sequence to energize you and your intention.

Full Moon

The 3 days before and the 3 days after the full moon are a wonderful time to express gratitude for your life and 

You can try sitting comfortably (outside under the full moon is possible!), focus on your breath for a while, do some shoulder rolls, then say silently or aloud:

“I release anything that is no longer serving me and I welcome all resources and guidance to bring my intention to life.”

You might enjoy gazing at the Full Moon and allowing your mind to relax. Notice if any insight comes and how you might feel lighter and happier.

Full Moons are the perfect time for rituals. This can be picking out crystals, burning candles, practicing yoga, all with the idea that you are supporting and empowering your intention.

Try this simple ritual to relax and connect to the energy of the Full Moon.

Waning Moon

The moon is getting smaller and will be lit up on the left side. Use this time to release things that are not serving you or your intention. This is also called Third Quarter Moon.

This is a great time to thank the universe for any guidance you have received. Allow yourself to receive your intention into your life. Notice how it is showing up. 

It might also be nice to slow down and relax a bit more during this phase. Honor your efforts. 

Try this yoga sequence to slow down and relax.

Balsamic Moon and Dark Moon

The Balsamic Moon is that last sliver before the new moon and the Dark Moon is the day before the new moon.

This is a time for rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation.

Slow down and take care of yourself. Tune into your body and notice how you are feeling during this time. Take time for some deep breathing. Honor your soul.

Possibly take a nap. Enjoy this part of the lunar cycle.

Moving forward. You can create a new intention on the next New Moon or refocus and adjust your intention from the previous one.

I hope you journey on the moon’s cycle. The best place to find out the moon phases is: https://www.timeanddate.com/moon/phases/

If you wish for me to share more ways to enjoy the moon’s phases please pop a comment below or email me at hello@kerryburki.com.

p.s. Little known fact: I am a Certified Lunar Mystic. Getting out of my head and in touch with the phases of the moon has helped me appreciate myself, others, and the world around me so much more.

Gentle Yoga for the Waning Moon

Do you remember that Energizing Flow Yoga video I shared in June?

The video I am sharing today is perfect to do after or on the days in between for a complete yoga practice. I also love this sequence during the waning moon phase that we are currently in.

So perfect for lazy summer days or under the moon!

Always check with your doctor before practicing yoga.

The most important thing is to listen to your body. You are your best teacher and I am simply your guide.

BENEFITS OF GENTLE YOGA:

  • Relieves stress
  • Increases flexibility
  • Calms the mind
  • Lubricates joints
  • Keeps organs healthy
  • Develops intuition
  • Helps with mindfulness

There are a ton more benefits too! Practice this and let me know how you feel after!!!!

If you really like this, I would recommend doing it 2 to 3 days a week. It is also gentle enough to be a daily practice.

This is a beautiful way to open up to your intuition and increase your trust in your self.

 

Energizing Yoga For The Waxing Moon

I love quick ways to get energized and I love ways to tune into the energy of the moon. This sequence quickly warms you up and helps you release any old junk you are holding onto.

This sequence is perfect to do during the waxing phase of the moon when the moon is growing.

You might like to have 2 yoga blocks to rest your hands on during the lunge poses if you are feeling tight. Always check with your doctor before practicing yoga.

The most important thing is to listen to your body. You can push yourself but you do not want to be in pain at any time. You are your best teacher and I am simply your guide.

Benefits of Flow Yoga:

  • Increased metabolism
  • Releases toxins
  • Helps focus the mind
  • Releases tightness and tension
  • Increases flexibility
  • Builds muscle
  • Improves lung capacity

There are a ton more benefits too! One of the reasons I practice this is to remove blocks to my intuition. You should feel like a clear channel after this session.

Practice this and let me know how you feel after!!!!

If you really like this, I would recommend doing it 2 to 3 days a week.

The Importance of Feeling Beautiful + Next Photoshoot!

I want you to know that I hope the first issue of KERRY magazine made you feel beautiful.

I want to share a photo me from when I was 15. I came across this last year and decided to hang it up above my dresser. When I found this, my first response was awe. I couldn’t believe how beautiful, funky and confident the girl in the picture looked. The reason I was so surprised is because I didn’t feel any of those things at the time. This photo was actually taken right before I cut all of that hair off so I could look like Mia Farrow from Rosemary’s Baby. My mom was so upset. I didn’t understand why. Over 20 years later, I got it. I finally saw what she saw. I now know what she always knew.

15(I am seriously crying right now in a coffee shop as I write this. I learned not to stop the crying because it means I am feeling and feeling is healing. It may sound cheesy but I have been feeling a lot in the last year and a lot of positive change has been coming from it.)

I thought everyone else was beautiful and that I would never REALLY be beautiful.

I am going to be honest here and let you know that feeling that way led me to a lot of self-destructive behavior. It led me to hang out with a lot of people who did not value me as a person. It led me to learn how to be one way on the outside while being completely different on the inside.

(I have been encouraged to share my story more lately so this is the beginning of that. I hope to keep peeling back the layers so that my experiences can help others. The amount of tears flowing right now make me realize that this is a good start.)

I grew up and eventually had moments and times in my life when I truly felt beautiful. I feel very lucky to have had those times because I am now learning that not everyone does.

I started going back to my old ways of thinking after moving back to Arizona 2 years ago. I had gained weight. I had stretch marks from my pregnancies. I had acne scars on my face from horrible breakouts that happened the year after the birth of my first son. I compared myself to EVERYONE. I never came out on top. I was constantly saying negative things to and about myself in my head.

I remembering looking at this photo of me as a 15 year old and feeling an ache deep inside. Such a beautiful soul who had no idea just how beautiful she is. I knew that I didn’t want another 20 years to go by and to find a photo of my 37 year old self and feel that same ache. That ache of seeing the beauty in my younger self that I couldn’t see at the time.

I started learning about changing my thoughts. I discovered that I can actually tell myself “I am beautiful.” Who knew?! I had never said those words. I started saying them over and over again in my head. I started making a song out of it and dancing. I eventually was able to look in the mirror and say “You are beautiful” to my reflection.

I got more serious about my meditation practice. I started to really take the time to get in touch with my true self. That deep inner core that knows that I am worthy, amazing and, yes, beautiful.

I started to allow tears to come and not stop them once they did. I started to move out that old energy. That energy that didn’t think I was good enough.

I started to pay attention to what made me feel beautiful and to do those things often.

I started this magazine.

I wanted to honor the dreams of the girl in that photo. I also knew that other people might feel the way I have felt and I want them to feel beautiful too.

One of the women from the magazine wrote me after the photoshoot saying this:

“It was extraordinary. Really. It did me a world of good and honestly is the first time I’ve ever felt anything close to beautiful.”

I almost dropped the phone.

If you told my 15 year old self that when she was in her 30’s that she would help a woman feel beautiful and good about herself during a photoshoot for her very own magazine I know she would have smiled and said “That sounds about right but I won’t just stop there.” If she had the tools then that I have now it might have happened sooner than later. I have spent enough time in the past and am now excited to create a beautiful future.

It has taken me some time but I am finally ready to be myself and to find the beauty in that authenticity.

I want to do the same for others.

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If you want to be a part of the next issue of KERRY magazine please send me a message at kerryburki@gmail.com. I have the next photoshoot tentatively scheduled for Sunday, October 25th at my home.

If you feel called to do some deeper work please get in touch. I would love to help you find and feel your beauty and your worth. You can get in touch at kerryburki@gmail.com.

Remember, you are beautiful!!! XO!

Breathe In, Breathe Out – Breathing Tips for Holiday Stress

A couple of weeks ago I was flying from Chicago to Phoenix with my 18-month-old to find a house for our upcoming move. The whole morning was going great and we even ended up with an empty seat beside us on the plane. A dream come true for a mama flying with a toddler on her lap. About 10 minutes after boarding we found out that the flight was delayed. It continued to get delayed for a total of three hours. We were not allowed off the plane. The woman in front of me was freaking out and got off the plane with her two children. I realized that this was a perfect opportunity to take some of my own advice that I offer in my yoga classes. Breathe in positivity, breathe out negativity. Breathe in things I can control, breathe out things I cannot control.

I went into the bathroom to change my son’s diaper, looked in the mirror and said the above mantra out loud. Then I made it fit my current situation. I said, “Breathe in what I can control, like my attitude about being delayed, breathe out what I cannot control like when this plane takes off.” I will admit that I smiled and laughed at my reflection but that moment made the rest of the delay, flight, and day so much better and even enjoyable.

It occurred to me later that my situation was similar to what people start to experience during the holiday season. I wanted to share my experience and create a reminder that even though you cannot control your situation you can control your reaction to it. (just click on the above images to print out the cards!)

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season and learn to inhale the positive and exhale the negative. For help on some deep breathing be sure to check out these two short videos I made: Deep Breaths + Ujjayi Breath.

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