Setting Positive Intentions

I attended a workshop, earlier in the week, organised by the very gifted – Wendy Wason. I was taught how to activate the root (base) chakra by practicing yin yoga and I learnt how to harness the energy of the new moon and my thoughts for setting positive intentions, by making smudge sticks from fresh herbs and beeswax candles.

The day started off, in a bright, serene room (upstairs at Lauderdale House), with lilac coloured yoga mats aligned across the floor and the smell of earthy essential oils lightly infusing the air. There was a small group of us, all eyes on the yogi – Wendy, as she took us through a yoga sequence designed to ground negative emotions and energies and activate the base of our spines (the root chakra). A great way to start the work week and the new lunar cycle, clearing away tensions and strains from the body!

When the yoga class finished, I felt as though I was walking taller, lighter, and firmer. Everyone radiated an abundance of positivity. If our environment influences our wellbeing, then this environment had prepped us for even more soulful healing.

The group was led down to the back patio of Lauderdale House, where a well laid out brunch was waiting, prepared by Pink (the in-house caterers). (JFYI, Lauderdale House is a beautiful, restored period house that sits on the grounds of Waterlow Park in North London. The park is a natural gem that is surrounded by a buzzing metropolis on the other side of the hedges and wrought iron fences.) We basked in all the positvity and beauty of the natural surroundings as well as being nourished by delicious food. There was chatting and laughter and birds chirping away in the trees. It all felt very bohemian!

Waterlow Park, with the City of London in the backdrop.

Lunch was followed by a workshop on creating smudge sticks and candles, for de-cluttering emotional baggage and negative vibes and setting positive intentions for the next 28-days. This session was delivered by Katy Theakston, the founder of The Owl & The Apothecary, a business based in Dorset, that sells the most beautiful range of natural handmade products, mostly sourced from the UK. You can find some of their product range at Planet Organic (as well as their own website)!

Katy taught us how to use a smudge stick. She also taught us how to choose herbs, crystals and thread colours, to create intention. We also learnt how to make beeswax candle sticks, using similar principles of choosing colours to add extra energy to our intentions.

Towards the end of the workshop, I had stepped out of the room for a few minutes, only to then return to Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the Labour Party, standing in the conservatory, surrounded by the ladies attending the workshop, having a chat about smudge sticks! Talk about surreal! He even agreed to pose for a few photos with our cohort. A very nice man; I must say he really didn’t come across how critics in the media portray him. Jokingly, we thought afterwards, he preferred to hang out with us in the park, making smudge sticks for positive intentions, instead of entertaining the US President – Donald Trump!

Shifting my thoughts back to the present moment, I’m sitting on the 271 bus on my way to Old Street. Reflecting on my week, I feel so incredibly grateful for all that has been and is now. Some days no matter how chaotic they seem, if you can try to step-back and slow your pace right down, you are able to appreciate how intricately connected and significant every moment in your life actually is.

In mindful practice, gratitude helps us to feel abundance. I feel truly blessed to have experienced such a wonderful day, to have shared the experience with these amazing women, to have met a high-profile politician for a few minutes (I can only but imagine the scale of challenges he faces each day as a leader), for living near a beautiful park where I can connect with nature, and to have amazing children to help me smudge our flat during our new moon ritual.