Intentional Visions Boards for Depression or Breakdown/Burnout

What is this?
It's what I call an intentional vision board.

A few years ago I was extremely lost.

I'd emigrated - then returned home to England, was about to get divorced, had no money, no job, 2 little children to care for and contending with a nervous breakdown that robbed me of all my energy and personality.

I know it sounds amazing! Haha - but I didn't enjoy AT ALL.
I'd lost my identity, my soul, my energy, my positivity, my enjoyment, my sense of self, the strong person I used to be. Totally gone.

I was so so broken, weak and unhappy - I just wanted to go for a very, very long sleep (about 6 years or so would have done) - and wake up when I had the energy to live my life. (I've tears in my eyes now because of the relief I feel not being in that place - and if anyone is in in that place please know that it DOES NOT LAST - not only will you survive you will also thrive - it's your reward 😘).

So...it seemed everywhere I turned there were obstacles stopping me getting better - trust me trying to fix your mental health without childcare or sleep is pure hell.
Experiencing mental health problems at all is hell and if you are my heart goes out to you - it is happening to most of us, an epidemic for our era, exasberated by the system we live in. (But that's another story and I best stop my waffling - I wanted to talk about a picture damn it!)

This is not a total sob story I'm just painting the background picture for you about my total frigging lost-ness (if that's a word!) 😞

So...because I felt so lost, like I didn't know who I was at all anymore - I'd started collecting all the photos and quotes on my phone that I seemed to resonate with at the time. Sometimes you see one and you think, that is ME - that speaks to my soul - it describes me - or the future me, the me in another world. The things I love, images that made my heart sing - words that made me laugh or cry or feel strong again.

And I used to save them in a folder on my phone called 'Me'. When I had about 40-50 pictures or so I thought, what am I going to do with them? I want them printed off but there's no point just sticking them in an album.

Then I had the thought of putting them on the wall somehow - and because I wanted it to look pretty and easy to create, I thought of hanging satin ribbons (which I had tons of) from a bamboo stick, hung on the wall with curtain tie back hooks - and attach the photos with clips.

It was a bit weird but I am weird - but it looked fab. I used to put my Christmas cards up with ribbon and little clips so I found the clips.

I can't tell you how happy I was when I got to hang those photos on the wall, it felt like i'd found pieces of me (did I mention how lost I was and my mental health issues? Lol) 😜
Honestly, this weird artform on my wall brought me the most immense joy. It was like I could remember who I was again.

After about 6 months, I did an NLP course and discovered The Law of Attraction - I changed the picture hangings to 60 or so pictures of what I wanted my future to look like. A giant vision board - but deliberately created not intuitively from cut out magazines (which are also fun).

I knew I wanted my own business - so there was pictures of paypal saying "you've got funds" - there were pictures of a girl working from bed on a laptop - of a cruise ship (that we went on 2 years ago) pictures of yoga retreats, pictures of a (single) mum smiling, thriving with 2 kids - many, many LAO quotes and Spiritual symbols I was drawn to.
It seems trivial but it was quite a powerful thing to do and I highly recommend intentional vision boards if you are feeling lost or if you are wanting to go in a certain direction, we are highly visually dominant creatures, so much so we overlook many other senses! So use imagery to point your subconscious in the right direction 👍
Most of what I asked for came true - and the only reason it doesn't live there anymore is because My shop, Love Beyond the Moon, takes over that entire wall 💚💚💚

When I have my retreat in the country I want in the hallway a HUGE version of this where people can choose from a selection to pin up, that resonate with who they are and what they stand for - or where they want to go. Or they could keep or take the pics with them if they need a little reminder.

My retreat will help a lot of people who are as lost and upset as I once was, who are ending a chapter of their life and starting a new one - who need support, understanding and connection - whilst convalescing in the countryside but with a wide range of holistic practices and programmes to feel relief, hope and further along the path to wellness and wholeness again.

But the pictures hung up, there'll be pictures hung in the hallway! Shut up Sarah you waffler!

Thank you for reading - and enjoy the rest of the Easter break ~ Many blessings and much love xx Sarah xx

The Meaning of the Phoenix ~ What does Phoenix rising mean?

The Meaning of the Phoenix ~ What does the Phoenix symbol mean?

She who rises from the ashes to recreate.

 

For any of us that have truly felt like we hit rock bottom, that we died within our own lifetime, the Phoenix represents the rising we know is possible.

The rebirth, from experiencing hell to heaven, and true transformation - perhaps the greatest - and maybe, just maybe, what we went through was worth it.

That in order to experience our true glory, fully, we had to surrender to the death of our old life - we had to learn patience, we had to lie in the ashes - lie in the dark, often alone, and learn to heal, to have faith and hold onto hope - that what is actually waiting for us is so magnificent that for a while we can only dare to dream it.

You don't half rise like a phoenix. You wait and you heal and you gather your strength. You learn and you feel and you become wise and you wait some more - you learn about energy and how to conserve it, how to bring it to the table and how to unleash it.


You wait, and you learn all of your lessons, and you heal. Don't rush it. Gather your energy, learn how to master it - get yourself well: physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually..

Even if you feel buried underneath the ashes you know that this is not the end. This is a process. There is a little flicker, a fire, a light - and you know that this is not the end. This is not how it ends.

And you do not know how long it is going to take to gather the strength to rise - but you know that this is not how it ends, and that your ascent is not only possible, it is inevitable.

It is a prophecy for us all, every single one of us has the ability to rise like the phoenix.
If you are underneath the ashes, wounded, know that it is possible.

If you are just waking up, and dusting off the ashes, know that it is true.

If you are healed and flapping your wings, you already know where this will lead you.

The rising will be easy. It is in the groundwork, the preparation, the tending of the soil - that the real work lies.

And when you rise, the other phoenix's who still lie in the ashes - they will see you, and your rising will give them strength and hope and inspiration.

Be patient, and learn alignment, learn self-love, learn to trust your inner being, your intuition...so when the time comes - you KNOW ♡

 

 

Hi everyone! Thank you for reading. I’m Sarah Cooper and my passions are in: Higher consciousness, self-love, personal growth, 'mind hacks', philosophy, addictions, mental-health, spirituality, Law of Attraction & emotional healing.

Through depression I experienced an ‘awakening’ that led me to explore spirituality, psychology and the metaphysical. I want to help other people through this painful process and open a retreat to bring people together on their healing journey.

I also create Gemstone ‘frequency’ jewellery for: The Law of Attraction, Chakra healing, Yoga, and Spiritual growth. Find out more here: www.lovebeyondthemoon.etsy.com

 

I showcase new designs on my Facebook page first www.facebook.com/lovebeyondthemoon and also do regular Giveaways and promotions.

See you there!

Sarah xxx
Pssst! I just added a 'follow by email' gadget to the top right of this blog, if you like what I write you can subscribe and be notified when I post a new blog! Blessings, Sarah xx

3 Powerful Gemstones I use for depression and why

3 Powerful Gemstones I use for depression and why.

1) Rose Quartz

The stone of Pure Love
Unconditional love, self-love...the vibration of Pure unconditional love is one of the highest frequencies we can entrain with, it lifts our spirits and reconnects us with the essence of life itself.

2) Lilac Jade

This stunning Gem I use for 'Hope'. One of the major emotions we feel with depression is 'hopelessness' - so I counteract this and help to heal with the powerful vibration and emotion 'hope'.

3) Rainbow Hematite

The frequency of Rainbow Hematite is 'abundant joy' and 'bliss' - some of the highest frequencies here on earth, when wearing or carrying Rainbow Hematite we can allow ourselves to entrain with this higher energetic vibration. It also helps that Rainbow Hematite is stunningly beautiful. Just looking at this Gem can lift our spirits and remind us of the rainbow after the rain.

Gemstone bracelet design 'Joy, Love, Bliss'

Raising Your Vibration JOY, LOVE and Bliss ~ Crystal Gemstone butterfly bracelet with Rose Quartz, Lilac Jade and Rainbow Magnetic Hematite

Teamed with butterflies, hearts & flowers. ~ £20 or approx. $30 ~ can be bought individually or part of a special offer for further discount.

click the link below to view
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/201522451/raising-your-vibration-joy-love-and?ref=shop_home_active_10

BEAT DEPRESSION

Joy & LOVE bracelet with Rainbow Hematite gemstones, Rose Quartz, silver 'Believe' Charm and Butterfly Charm
View here: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/169722752/beat-depression-joy-love-bracelet-with?ref=shop_home_active_3


All Gemstones lift your vibration but these 3 are my favourite to work with for depression, which is why I have incorporated into these 2 designs.

Hi everyone! Thank you for reading. I’m Sarah Cooper and my passions are in: Higher consciousness, self-love, personal growth, 'mind hacks', philosophy, addictions, mental-health, spirituality, Law of Attraction & emotional healing.

Through depression I experienced an ‘awakening’ that led me to explore spirituality, psychology and the metaphysical. I want to help other people through this painful process and open a retreat to bring people together on their healing journey.

I also create Gemstone ‘frequency’ jewellery for: The Law of Attraction, Chakra healing, Yoga, and Spiritual growth. Find out more here: www.lovebeyondthemoon.etsy.com

I showcase new designs on my Facebook page first www.facebook.com/lovebeyondthemoon and also do regular Giveaways and promotions.

See you there!

Sarah

Pssst! I just added a 'follow by email' gadget to the top right of this blog, if you like what I write you can subscribe and be notified when I post a new blog! Blessings, Sarah xx

Why would I need to heal or balance my Root Chakra?

Why would I need to heal or balance my Root Chakra?

The Root Chakra, known as Muladhara in Sanskrit - is the red energy centre located at the base of the spine, pelvic area and is literally your Root - connecting you to mother earth.

This centre is unbalanced when we feel a lot of Fear, if we are scared a lot - especially in relation to our feelings of security and safety.

It is out of balance when we are feeling very disconnected from life, feeling lost, depressed, unsupported, lonely, and depleted or exhausted.

Feeling like this, we have lost a lot of faith in the ability of this life and this earth, to support us.

When activated and balanced - a healthy, balanced Root Chakra will have you feeling:
Protected, secure, safe, a sense of belonging, connection - to the earth and others, wealthy, grounded and confident, in good vitality, vibrant and physically energised.

Quick meditation
To activate and heal the Root Chakra close your eyes and visualise a stream of light from your Root, down through your legs and out through your feet.
Have it reach down into the earth below you and through the soil...imagine you are literally growing roots as they go deeper and deeper into the earth.
As they go deeper down into the earth they are stabilising you and providing the security, the energy, and connection.

Mother Earth sustains you and feeds you, like an child in the womb, she is nourishing you and providing protection.

Some useful Crystals for the Root Chakra
These are often Red, Dark red or Black/Brown:

Garnet

 Black Tourmaline

 

 

 Tiger's eye

 

 

 Red Jasper

 

 

 Labradorite

 

 

 Smoky Quartz

 

Carry tumblestones with you, place them on the body over the energy centre, meditate with them - or wear the stones in jewellery.

Root Chakra Symbol:

The Tree of Life

Affirmations
To release and heal (if applicable):
I release my fears
I release separation
I release feeling lost
I release depletion
I release exhaustion
I release hopelessness
I release loneliness

To activate and balance:
I know I belong
I have physical energy; I'm vibrant and healthy
I am safe
I am secure
I am protected
I have wealth and abundance
I am connected to this earth
And to all others
We are one

Nature is also a fabulous healer for the Root Chakra - time around animals and plant life, gardening, stones, water and fresh air no matter the weather will always lift, energise and help to heal.

There is much to learn from plant-life and trees - they are not in a state of stress or resistance, they are flexible and they adapt - yet marvel at the beauty, grace and strength of a redwood and all the life it supports on it's glorious journey.
When you are out in nature you can say "I allow myself to entrain with the pure positive energy of nature and life itself"

And allow the non-resistant, high vibration, pure energy of the plant-life, water, sun or air to lift you into it's higher frequency.

Another fabulous activity is 'earthing' - walking barefoot outside - on the grass, sand or stone - allowing the earth energy to come up through your bare feet, and fully feeling the ground beneath them, it brings a beautiful feeling of connection with the planet and life-force.

Blessings to you, Sarah
☆♡☆♡☆

My Root Chakra Gemstone Bracelet design ~ Available here, for a limited time: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/214500514/i-am-safe-muladhara-root-or-earth-chakra?ref=shop_home_active_13

Hi everyone! Thank you for reading. I’m Sarah Cooper and my passions are in: Higher consciousness, self-love, personal growth, 'mind hacks', philosophy, addictions, mental-health, spirituality, Law of Attraction & emotional healing.

Through depression I experienced an ‘awakening’ that led me to explore spirituality, psychology and the metaphysical. I want to help other people through this painful process and open a retreat to bring people together on their healing journey.

I also create Gemstone ‘frequency’ jewellery for: The Law of Attraction, Chakra healing, Yoga, and Spiritual growth. Find out more here: www.lovebeyondthemoon.etsy.com

I showcase new designs on my Facebook page first www.facebook.com/lovebeyondthemoon and also do regular Giveaways and promotions.

See you there!

Sarah

Pssst! I just added a 'follow by email' gadget to the top right of this blog, if you like what I write you can subscribe and be notified when I post a new blog! Blessings, Sarah xx

5 Hopeful thoughts for someone with depression

Depression can consume a person. Hopelessness is one of the main emotions a depressed person is feeling. Thoughts and emotions of hopelessness seem so intertwined, we don't know where one ends, and they have us in an almost permanent negative spiral. I used to call it 'going under'.

With this is mind ~ and I have personal experience of years of depression with a very positive outcome ~ here are 5 hopeful thoughts for the future.

1) If your mind and emotions can create a negative spiral, a circle of negative thoughts, beliefs and emotions that seem to feed each other creating negative focus thus negative experiences ~ well your mind is a powerful tool, it isn't you ~ it is a tool to help us navigate this world, and to create.

So isn't it also possible that the mind and emotions can also be used to create the complete opposite? Is it possible that your mind could be used to think positive thoughts, that create positive emotions, that spur on more positive thoughts ~ creating positive focus on the world thus creating positive experiences ~ and it all working together symbiotically, in harmony? A positive spiral.

Even if you don't think this is possible for you right now, that is seems far away, isn't the positive spiral possible?

2) If this is the worst possible stage of your life, the worst you've ever felt ~ isn't is possible that things may slowly, slowly, slowly start to get a little bit better, even if just a tiny bit at a time, from now on? Is it possible there will be at least better moments than this?

3) If you have experienced or are experiencing hell, whether internally or externally ~ that is so far to the possible end of the spectrum of what is possible in this life ~ is it also possible that you can experience the other side of this before this life is through? You now have awareness of one side of the contrast, our world and perception is made up of contrast ~ isn't is possible that with this awareness you could, should experience the exact opposite? Haven't you paid the price of contrast?

4) We are in a depression epidemic. At least 350 million people in the world have depression alone. That is just the amount of people diagnosed and only a slice of the mental health issues we are currently facing. It is not just you. Society is very, very sick. We are in a mental health crisis that has never been seen or looked at as in depth before.

Big changes happen in times of crisis. Society will have to change to adapt ~ if you have depression I am sure you have realised that the set up we have here on earth at the moment is not one that promotes compassion, love, care, peace and support. The positive circle I talked about above ~ that needs to be created in society, in our world ~ a positive feedback loop for the human race.

Depression is not a personal weakness! It is a human condition that must be looked at, studied, analysed and then systems set in place at the root cause, before symptoms take place.

We are advanced in information technology but not in using our own minds, brains and bodies and creating harmony.

But...we are still evolving, we didn't just stop! As a race we are still learning, about ourselves! Our minds and consciousness, quantum physics, the unknown ~ this is what we have left to study.

We are growing at an exponential rate, never seen before and I am hopeful science will map the psyche to an extent ~ so we can be taught to take control of our own minds early on in life, that we promote our most basic positive human traits of love and peace and compassion and support and strength and inspiration ~ and exploit them for our own wellbeing. That we create places for learning this.

We are in an information age, huge amounts of tests and data is being collected. For the human race to expand and grow optimally, we will have to study what causes mental health issues ~ what we have to do to create a society that feeds the optimal human and creates positive feedback loops.

As a race at this time in history, we could choose how to evolve. Our societies at the moment promote greed, exploitation, self-loathing, fear, and ignorance ~ at the detriment to the human race. Most of the suffering in todays world, is humans at the hands of other humans.

I don't know what we will see in our lifetimes but as I'm getting better and better, I no longer have depression ~ I see a lot of good going on in the world now too, my focus has changed slightly.

I see a lot of philanthropy, a lot of individuals and group organisations taking it upon themselves, not the governments, to create change in the world. That gives me hope, I can glimpse how the future could be.

The fact that you have depression, like millions and millions of people in this world, means you are in your own way, contributing to what may be a positive outcome for the human race. We are all in this together. So many people can not suffer without the world learning from it.

Whilst this may seem like a bizarre, comforting and perhaps a little controversial, thought ~ remember how many people have suffered to get the human race this far? Our pain propels us forwards for great change: irradiating diseases, the end of the slave trade, clean water, hospitals...look at the technology we can provide now for people with disabilities. Take a look at the world 100 years ago and see what pain people went through to get where we are as the human of today. Mental pain must be looked at next, it is still relatively new really.

Do you think society should catch up?

5) How much do you think you have learnt about depression? In this day and age of information at your fingertips, it is likely you have studied the heck out of it. It is likely you, like me, have tried many things, read more articles than you've ever read about anything else. Without realising it, you are likely in an intense learning period of your life. You may never have before spent so much time trying to figure out 'you'. You have an awareness about how you think and feel that most people just take for granted.

Write down everything that you've studied and things you've tried over the last couple of years, what have you found out? There was nothing I didn't study or use as I tried to latch on to anything that sounded or felt like hope. What insights do you have about how we could help this condition?

Your experience and knowledge mean you can go on to help others. In the future, in your own way, you can ease another's pain with this experience and knowledge. You could help to create the change you wish to see in the world.

You can be an inspiration.

Blessings, Sarah xx

Hi everyone! Thank you for reading. I’m Sarah Cooper and my passions are in: Higher consciousness, self-love, personal growth, 'mind hacks', philosophy, addictions, mental-health, spirituality, Law of Attraction & emotional healing.

Through depression I experienced an ‘awakening’ that led me to explore spirituality, psychology and the metaphysical. I want to help other people through this painful process and open a retreat to bring people together on their healing journey.

I also create Gemstone ‘frequency’ jewellery for: The Law of Attraction, Chakra healing, Yoga, and Spiritual growth. Find out more here: www.lovebeyondthemoon.etsy.com

I showcase new designs on my Facebook page first www.facebook.com/lovebeyondthemoon and also do regular Giveaways and promotions.

See you there!

Sarah

Pssst! I just added a 'follow by email' gadget to the top right of this blog, if you like what I write you can subscribe and be notified when I post a new blog! Blessings, Sarah xx

Do you want to know what your life's purpose might be?

Want to know what your life's purpose could be?

What's the greatest adversity you've had to endure and overcome?

 

Help people to heal and alleviate their suffering of that same ordeal, somehow. If only just a little. You may know how to move through it faster. You can be an inspiration.

There are approximately 7 billion people in the world. What you have been through - others are going through right now. You can help. Even if you're not quite there yourself. You're slightly further ahead than someone else is right now.

In healing and teaching others, we heal ourselves even more.

Connect. We live in an age where in little to no time at all - you can create connection, with the people you need to. If you can't do it face to face - you can do it through the internet.

You might not be ready to help people in that way, you might still be healing yourself and the pain is still too much. When I first started to move through depression - I couldn't talk about it, for fear it would engulf me again and pull me under.

So I started the page 'Free Spirits and Hippies' and everyday I posted uplifting, inspiring pictures. Message of peace and love and happiness. Positive vibes only, on people's Facebook newsfeeds. That page boomed, it's got something like 35 thousand likes - people really dig those good vibrations - and it made me smile everyday.

Later I started to make Crystal jewellery, this had helped me - and in my own way, I could help other people. It also fed my addictive personality and obsessions - as I tried to get as many different types of Gemstones, for the same intention - onto one bracelet, in an attractive way!

But I still didn't talk about depression.

It's only now, that I feel so much better, safe in the knowledge that as i've learnt so much, I can never go back.

That I feel I can even start to discuss it.

Not really my own experience of it. But how I want to help others move through it, faster, and with more support.

With the attitude and goal of 'Wellness'.

I'm writing a book '101 ways to get out of depression' or something like that.

Because there's nothing that I didn't try. I have given everything a go. From Sensory deprivation tanks to buying every single tincture, vitamin and immune boosting, brain chemistry balancing product on the market.

I got qualified in Reiki and I learnt NLP. I read every self help book that's ever been written. I learnt yoga, meditation, mindfulness and the Law of Attraction.

I wanted to move into the Buddhist centre.

I did spells, synced myself to the moon, connected with my angels, studied Quantum Physics, had acupuncture and attended laughter yoga.

I RE-learnt the top 10 positive emotions and how to cultivate them. I learned to paint, I learned to sew.

I had massages, sat in saunas....I studied philosophy, psychology - inner child work and Jung's 'core-beliefs' - along with my personality type (Infj).

I came across The Chakra energy system and Crystals and absorbed everything to do with spirituality and personal growth.

I discovered I was a socialist.

I set up a business.

I tried medication. I tried becoming a runner.

There's at least 75 things I haven't mentioned.

I also had a toddler, chronic fatigue and an allergy to stress. I think I've learned most of this from bed.

I know my shit. I might not have depression any more but I know I'm definitely, obsessively nuts.

My future lies in helping stressed out people, families, mothers...with addictions and mental health..in a way that promotes wellness.

And I'd never have known what I was really supposed to do with my life - If I hadn't been through the pain.

I believe we're here to help each other - because it furthers humanity and in a way this level of pain gives rise to cultivating so much compassion within our society - it may not look like it at the moment - but that's our job now! And this cycle of learning and teaching I see as essential for our evolution. It connects us.

We are all one! Blessings and good night! Sarah ♡

Hi everyone! Thank you for reading. I’m Sarah Cooper and my passions are in: Higher consciousness, self-love, personal growth, 'mind hacks', metaphysics, addictions, mental-health, spirituality & emotional healing.

Through depression I experienced an ‘awakening’ that led me to explore spirituality, psychology and the metaphysical. I want to help other people through this painful process and open a retreat to bring people together on their healing journey.

I also create Gemstone ‘frequency’ jewellery for: The Law of Attraction, Chakra healing, Yoga, and Spiritual growth. Find out more here: www.lovebeyondthemoon.etsy.com

I showcase new designs on my Facebook page first www.facebook.com/lovebeyondthemoon and also do regular Giveaways and promotions.

See you there!

Sarah

Pssst! I just added a 'follow by email' gadget to the top right of this blog, if you like what I write you can subscribe and be notified when I post a new blog! Blessings, Sarah xx