We can learn a lot from the ocean but what stood out to me today as I was walking along the beach recording a meditation for one of my clients, was the tides. High tide, low tide and that in between transition period are so much like our lives. We have times when we’re busier, work is going well, romance is exciting and money is flowing abundantly – our own personal high tides. Then we have times where things don’t seem to be going our way, we are experiencing difficulties or perhaps just not seeing a lot of action in our lives – our low tides. Yet the ocean doesn’t worry during a low tide if it will ever be high tide again, it knows that for every low tide, comes a high tide. What if you started to embrace the tides of your life with total trust that for as far as the tide went out it would always come back in? It would allow you to be at peace exactly where you are. Our lives are like the tides, they have their own ebbs and flow yet unlike nature we tend to fight the tide. We push, we get frustrated with ourselves – we’re trying to direct the ocean and we wonder why we feel so exhausted and depleted! I spent years pushing for a high tide, I pushed so hard I could never even tell when it actually came. It wasn’t until I got so exhausted, so depleted from all this forcing that I had to completely surrender – I stopped fighting the tides and just floated with them. What do you know, I started experiencing more high tides than ever before. I embraced the high tides (filming in LA, getting a bunch of clients, doing speaking engagements) and I cherished my low tides when things slowed down and I enjoyed the down time. I relaxed, I rested, I gave birth to new creative endeavors and I was able to restore my energy because I knew that a high tide was just around the corner. My life flows like the ocean and I no longer see one tide as better than another but both important parts to the ebb and flow that is my life! Xo, C ✨#LightMaker #oceanmusings
Blasts of Light
Love your body NOW
That’s right, NOW, not after you go on that cleanse or when you lose five pounds, LOVE YOUR BODY NOW. Stop waiting for some outside circumstance to give you permission to love it! This lesson came up again after years while I was in Paris. After spending years hating my body, torturing my body, crying for my body to be different, when I was in college I finally made the flip. One semester my food allergies made me so sick that I actually started to care for my body. I choose to nourish it, to love it and to appreciate it for doing its thing so divinely. Since then my love and appreciation for my healthy body has grown tremendously in recent years as I’ve watched loved ones struggle with their health. Yet still, I’m human, and sometimes these things come up again for us to heal even further. In Paris, quite frankly, the food made me feel gross. I felt heavy, bloated and even got a terrible allergic reaction one night. As I was laying in bed that night after a warm shower, uncomfortable in my own skin and not feeling a whole lot of love for my body, I got the message CHOOSE LOVE EVEN NOW. And I did, and my body is still recovering from Paris and I am choosing to love it in each moment. I am grateful for this magnificent vessel I’m on this planet in, this healthy, working machine. My body is far from perfect but it’s mine and I keep choosing to love it, as it is right now. The more you love your body now, the more you’ll be guided to make loving choices for it. You’ll be guided towards the food and activities that make it feel good and nourish it. Eating and exercise becomes pleasurable and not punishment because your making your choices from love not fear. So stop waiting for the “after” picture, love what IS right now because the way to true transformation, boundless energy and body that glows is through love. Xo, C ✨#LightMaker #letfoodLIGHTyouup #eatwithintention
Alone time is divine
Ah, last night’s Dead Sea salt and lavender bath was divine after an intense yoga workshop in the afternoon. It was interesting to reflect on how different my weekends have been since my early twenties. Just a few years ago my weekends were full of dinner, drinks and then a hungover brunch & repeat, a good weekend meant little to no alone time for me. I’d lay in bed Sunday night feeling totally drained yet my FOMO would prevent me from ever saying no to plans the next weekend. I was so caught up in my ego and what I thought I should be doing instead of what I actually wanted. It wasn’t until I started on my spiritual journey that I was able to release the “fear of missing out” – now I know that I’ll be guided to the events I need to be at and people I need to see. Doesn’t mean I don’t go to dinners or brunch on the weekend ever but it does mean I choose what feels expansive. I know how alone time is divine and truly deeply rejuvenating. I cherish my alone time these days and everything in my life (career, relationships, etc) has blossomed because I finally started scheduling ME into the calendar. Happy Sunday lightmakers, I hope you schedule some YOU time for today! Xo, C ✨#LightMaker
The Truth about Paris
Ah, Paris! How I fell in love with your beautiful architecture, the magic of your lights at night and your cafe lined streets. It truly felt like I spent another lifetime with you, from standing inside Notre-Dame, to sitting at Cafe De fleur and reading Hemingway’s “A Moveable Feast”, I truly loved spending time with you.
However, I also have some bones to pick with you, Paris. First of all, did you not get the memo that smoking kills? It’s completely disgusting the amount of people who still think it’s (gasp) still chic to smoke? Really?!! Looks like total self-hatred to me. Cancer isn’t cool and it was a major bummer that I could barely breathe while sitting outside in your cafes because so many people think this self destructive behavior is “fashionable”. The 80s are over Paris, I’m disappointed in you. Secondly, wow you made me grateful to be a New Yorker on the eating front. Bread and refined carbs on every corner and a struggle to find a green juice in a walking radius. Luckily, I had some amazing friends there and was lead to your farmers markets and the cute little whole in the wall juice places that do exist but it certainly made me realize how lucky I am for my east village plant based haven over here in NY.
I’m not trying to hate on you Paris, but perhaps *despecialize* you a tad from this beautiful, golden, dream city so many people think of you as. I had a lovely time roaming your streets, writing in your coffee shops and enjoying your river and canals. I actually found your people extremely friendly, granted I know a tad bit of french and that was quite helpful, but overall I never had a rude encounter in my time there. The hot chocolate at “Angelina’s” was literally divine and perfect for walking along the Seine and traipsing across your gardens. “Bob’s Juice Bar” hit the spot every time I was craving my green nectar and Cafe Pinson had some life saving almond milk matcha lattes when one too many spots looked at me with four-heads for asking for a non-dairy milk. Montmarte and Sacre-Coeur were absolutely magical, being on top of the hill gazing down on all of Paris, nothing short of breathtaking. Oh, and all the angels in Sacre-Coeur made me feel like I was walking through a different time and space. You gave me shivers multiple times.
I love that everyone sits outside at cafes and people watching is an everyday occurrence. Overall, your vibe was much more relaxed. To-go places are few and far between because “why not sit for a few minutes while you ENJOY your coffee” – don’t worry I realize there are somethings my beloved NYC could take a few notes from you from as well. Honestly, your gluten free pastries far surpass much I’ve tasted on this side of the pond (shhhh!!).
Paris, I know you are still on your journey and I look forward to you making more healthy advances before my next visit. Your architectural beauty will continue to enchant my dreams, the spirit inside your cathedrals will stay strong in my heart and the lounging in cafe lifestyle you exude’ s impact will continue over here for me in my favorite NYC cafes where smoking is not allowed and almond milk lattes are the norm. 🙂
Now let’s talk about the juicy stuff, the stuff that only comes up when you’re traveling by yourself in a foreign country!
Lessons and loving reminders from Paris:
EMBRACE THE TIMING OF YOUR LIFE AND KNOW THAT THINGS ARE UNFOLDING EXACTLY AS THEY SHOULD. That’s right you heard me, it’s happening as fast as it’s supposed to – stop trying to drive the ocean missy! You are so much more powerful when you ride the waves! This came to me all in a rush, I have been working on my book for a year now and it’s been taking me longer than I had hoped. When I got to Paris, I knew the universe had a better than mine. I was meant to have that experience before it was done. I also had been dreaming of Paris for years and I couldn’t have landed there at a more perfect time in my life. My experience would have been totally different if I had gone sooner.
YOUR SENSITIVITIES ARE YOUR GIFTS. I’m grateful that I’m not only repulsed by smoking, I’m allergic to it. I had sneezing fits constantly but this has also guided me against ever being tempted to touch the stuff! A few nights into my trip I decided to have some Brie and fresh baked bread, hey, “I’m in Paris!” – right?! Hahaha oh my body let me know how NOT right it was. I got hives all over my chest, my throat and chest got so itchy and I started coughing to the point where it felt like blood. Don’t worry I’m okay now, but it was a BIG wake up call that my food sensitivities and diet choices are for a reason. My body is very clear about what works for it, what heals and energizes it and what hurts it. Cheese is not my friend, sorry Brie, it’s not you, it’s me. I’m so grateful for these clear signs because it allows me to fuel my body correctly and guides my eating choices with love!
FARMER’S MARKETS WILL ALWAYS MAKE ME FEEL AT HOME. Okay, less powerful than the others but still pretty major. Finding a farmers market wherever I go connects me back to what I love: good, organic food made with love by real people. I speak vegetables in every language. 😉
TREAT YOUR BODY LIKE A LOVED ONE. This was a loving reminder for me. After struggling with body image in my past, feeling bloated and gross from food that didn’t work for my body put me in a funk I hadn’t felt in years. However, I brought it to my meditation and asked for guidance to help me love and accept my body deeper. I got that I needed to start thinking of it like a romantic relationship, realizing that I would never tell a boyfriend that I’d love them when they “lost ten pounds” or “got a six pack” – that sounded crazy! You love and accept your partner fully and that’s what makes them the best version of themselves. How could we not do that with our own bodies? Instagram is full of people who are waiting for “some day” to love their body. I say NO love your body NOW! Love and accept it for its beauty, it’s health, the miraculous systems that work all on their own day after day. That’s where real transformation starts. (Don’t worry you’ll be hearing more from me on this)
So that was the truth about Paris. The good, the bad, the ugly. Yes, I will go back and yes, I will be cooking all my food next time. Haha
New moon + The Spring Equinox
#foodforthought on the eve of both a new moon + the spring equinox: are you being the most wonderful expression of you that you’re capable of? Take some time this evening to journal about what that highest expression of you would look like? How would that feel? Close your eyes and visualize that wonderful you, your highest self shining through, see all the details and soak up all that energy. Think about what intentions your ready to plant right now, what do you want to see blossom in the upcoming weeks or months? Feel free to share with me your thoughts and intentions below! I’d love to hear. Xo, C ✨#LightMaker
Thank you – I love you
So last night, after my event, I get a disturbing email from my hosting service! Something happened and the website is being cached – I have no idea how to read the web lingo so I send it over to my brother who translates it into English for me. Haha He tells me that the website crashed from too many views!! I am upgrading my server and handling it all but I just wanted to tell you I was overwhelmed by all your love. I’m so grateful to all of you who read my blogs, watch my videos and listen to my meditations. I’m so happy to be able to be of service and so excited when it resonates with you! I can’t wait to share all about my travels on the blog tomorrow and I love you all so much. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Xo, C ✨#LightMaker
EASY Healthy Hash Brown Recipe
In this video I’ll show you my EASY, healthy hash brown recipe! I’m a huge fan of brunch and just because you’re eating healthy doesn’t mean you have to miss out on what in my opinion is the best meal of the day! Stay tuned for my healthy tofu scramble recipe that’s a great compliment to these.
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A Guided Meditation for LOVE
In this guided meditation for LOVE I’ll help you connect to your inner love supply and feel the incredible presence of love around you. This meditation is great if you’re feeling triggered by a romantic partner in your life or reaching out for love outside of yourself.
**I’m aware of the editing error but I didn’t want to NOT post this for Valentine’s Day so it will be corrected over the weekend!
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How to have the BEST Valentine’s Day YET
Valentine’s Day is here and you’re single, or you’re not, but either way it’s time to bask in the warmth of the LOVE we have inside of us. Take your self-care to the next level, get in touch with the love that radiates from with in through meditation and maybe even spoil yourself with some raw chocolates! Check out my video on “How to have the BEST Valentine’s Day YET” for my top three tools on making this V-Day the best one ever!
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How to Find Your Unique Voice
In this video I’m discussing how to find your unique voice. Often when we are starting out on our path towards a life that lights us up, we can have a real hard time “defining” ourselves or finding our special style that’s unique to us. This comes up a lot with the bloggers, coaches, and teachers that I work with and I wanted to share these 5 tips with you to help you find your unique voice and start flourishing!
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You can find out more information about the LIGHTMAKER mastermind sessions I mention here: cassandrabodzak.com/coaching
Hitting your own reset button
New beginning are magical reset buttons that we all have access to! Click to view how I use hitting the reset button on a daily basis as a game changing tool in my life to keep me on track and living a life I love! If you like this video, please give it the thumbs up and don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE for new videos every wednesday to help you lead a life the LIGHTS you up!
Some great resources for new beginnings include are my video on starting your own meditation practice and my MindBodyGreen article on a beginner’s guide to clean eating. Please comment below and let me know how you’re using new beginnings to make small, positive changes every day!
If you’re ready to hit a BIG reset button and blast off, head on over to my coaching page and see if a one on one session is right for you! I’d love to help your process.
how to start a meditation practice
My daily meditation practice is my lifeline. I meditate morning and night and even sometimes in between when I need to. It has helped me gain so much clarity and direction in my life, fueled me from my inner energy source and reduced my stress and anxiety tremendously. The Cassandra pre-meditation and the Cassandra post- having meditation in my life are two different people, that’s how much this work has changed me. I literally can’t speak highly enough about how it has transformed my life.
When I’m working with my clients it’s one of the first things we tackle because it creates such a solid, positive foundation for your entire life. Often, as with any good habit, it can be a little intimidating just getting started at first but once you jump that hurdle and start doing it, you’ll naturally be drawn to keep it up. The benefits will keep you coming back for more.
One of the most common questions I get is “how do I start meditating?” or “I want to meditate but I just don’t know where to start.” If this sounds like you, this video is for you! I’ll let you in on my top tips for taking the leap and show you how to start a meditation practice that sticks. I’ll ease you into it and you’ll be left wondering why you waited so long or ever questioned it! Take a few minutes for yourself, give yourself the tools that you deserve to live a life you’re obsessed with. Start meditating today.
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You can also purchase my full 60 minute meditation 101 intensive course at cassandrabodzak.com/online-workshops if you want to dive even deeper and be further supported to begin your meditation journey!