Earth Day + Taurus New Moon Celebrations
H A P P Y
E A R T H
D A Y !
I thought I would share some ideas of how you can celebrate and honor Mother Nature. Even though we are more isolated right now, we can still go outside and enjoy the blue sky, the sunshine on our skin, and all of the wonderful things nature has to offer.
This year, Earth Day lands on the same day as the New Moon in Taurus. This is a beautiful union as Taurus is governed by Mother Earth and helps us connect with nature. Taurus season brings us the gentle reminder that we are always supported and protected by the Earth, we can always return to Mother Gaia when we need to center our world.
Today is the perfect day to place your bare feet on the ground, dig your hands into soil warmed by the Sun, feel with all your senses this great planet we live on, and be grateful that she is here to nourish us.
Here is how I am going to connect with the energy of Taurus and celebrate Earth Day:
1.) Iced Rose Matcha
There's something really grounding to me about the ritual of making my cup of matcha. I enjoy the whole process. Sifting the powder into the bowl, pouring and whisking the water into the matcha until it's frothy, pouring it over ice and hearing the ice crack, and topping it with edible rose petals makes me feel like I'm giving myself a big glass of love. Matcha feels ~earthy~ to me, I don't know if it is because it is green but it's my Earth Day drink of choice!
2.) Meditate Outside
There is truly no better way to ground down than to plant your feet or sit directly on the Earth. Meditation does not have to be sitting in stillness for an extended amount of time. You can do a walking meditation through your neighborhood, admiring the beauty of the world. I enjoy closing my eyes and immersing myself in the sounds of the birds, the way the skin feels on my skin, and the earth beneath me sending energy up through my body. There is a guided body awareness meditation on my website if you don't know where to start with meditation.
Access the meditation here:
https://www.desertdwellingyoga.com/meditate
3.) Plant A Seed
I love plants and flowers so spending time in the garden is part of the normal routine but I recently purchased a bunch of flower seeds so I will be spending time today digging in the earth and planting my flower seeds. I purchased my seeds online from Seed Needs on Amazon since I did not want to go to the store. I am excited to start a medicinal flower and herb garden at our new house! I will share more about this project in the future!
4.) Grounding Oils
Vetiver and Bergamot are two of my favorite oils to blend together. The pair creates a woodsy, citrusy, floral scent that makes me feel uplifted yet grounded at the same time. Vetiver essential oil is distilled from the roots of African grasses and Bergamot essential oil is cold-pressed from the peels of the Bergamot Orange! For more info on doTERRA oils, click here:
5.) Grounding Yoga
Taurus, more than any other sign, is concerned with security and what makes us feel at ease. Two yoga poses you can do to connect with the Earth and Taurus are:
Child's Pose: Come into a tabletop position, knees under the hips, wrists under the shoulders. Spread the knees wide and drop the hips back towards the heels of the feet. Rest the forehead on a block or the ground. The arms extend out in front of you. Feel a sense of being held by the Earth here. Relax and soften. You are safe.
Toe Stretch: Come back to all fours, the knees come back under the hips. Now tuck the toes under the feet and root them into the ground. Try and get all the toes on the mat. Now start to walk the hands back towards the knees and sit back on the heels of the feet. Engage the core and tuck the tailbone slightly. Imagine your toes are taproots into the Earth, feel the energy flowing up from the ground and into your body. Filling you with strength and gratitude.
How you can honor the Earth all year long:
1.) Vegetarian/Vegan Diet
Ever since attending my yoga teacher training in 2018, I have switched to a mostly vegetarian diet. There are occasions where I do still eat meat but it's a lot less than in the past! According to PETA, "Animal agriculture is responsible for more greenhouse gases than all the world’s transportation systems combined".
2.) Compost Your Scraps!
We have significantly reduced waste in our house by composting. We've been composting for around three or four years and it's really quite simple. There are tons of composting guides readily available for you through Pinterest and a quick Google search. I won't bother you with that since there is plenty of info. Just set aside a bowl next to your sink (or you can get a fancy compost bin), and throw in your food scraps from cooking, coffee grounds, banana peels, eggshells, really anything as long as it's not too acidic! Don't put meat, dairy, or cooked food scraps in the compost. Toss the scraps into a designated area in the yard, add soil, dried leaves, and combine it all. The idea is that you are adding organic matter back into the Earth!
3.) Reusable Grocery Bags/Straws/Water Bottles/Cups
If you aren't on the reusable bag train already... what is stopping you? Reusable grocery bags are cute but also help reduce SO MUCH WASTE! I love taking my bags to the store and not having to worry about the bags ripping from being heavy or having to feel guilty for all the plastic. I also stopped getting straws at restaurants after hearing that scientists estimate there are 7.5 million plastic straws polluting United States shorelines. I also keep my trusty Nalgene water bottle with me everywhere I go and I try to remember to take a mug into the coffee shop when ordering to-go!
4.) Don't Litter
Seems like a no brainer right? Well, some people haven't quite figured it out. PICK UP YOUR TRASH. And right now during this time of disposable wipes, gloves, masks... please put these items in the trash when you are done with using them!
5.) Donate!
There are so many amazing organizations out there helping fight for the Earth. Find a cause you are passionate about and that speaks to your soul and give what you can. A few of my favorite environmental charities are:
Southwest Environmental Center
Get creative and celebrate the Earth how you want to! Don't overthink it, there is no right or wrong way to do it! Happy Earth Day, sending positive vibes your way!
L O V E + L I G H T
S H A Y L E E
