What I Gained By Believing In Myself

I remember family vacations as a kid, I remember spending hours doing my homework in the back of my Dad’s Lincoln while we made the 15 hour drive to South Padre Island, so we could spend a week at the ocean, fishing, walking the beach, going to Mexico, getting fresh tortillas, swimming, building sand castles, life seemed so simple then. I lived for these vacations, I loved the sunshine and ocean air, looking back now, these family vacations were everything, in all honesty, I think some of trips could have been a National Lampoon’s Vacation movie!

I have lived in Maine for many years and I have been very blessed that I have friends with boats that would gladly take me anytime I want to go, but one day I decided that I want my own boat, I want to be able to get out on the water myself, I want to haul lobster traps and tour around explore the islands. This was probably one of my more ridiculous ideas, that came with endless self doubt dialogue that played over and over in my head, but I told Mike about my idea, he said, “ok, I will find you a boat.” It did not take long, maybe a week before I was backing up my truck to pick up my little lobster boat. I looked at Mike and said, “ what if I can’t do this, what if I back the boat off the ramp, what if I hit a ledge, what if... what if.... what if.....????” My ‘what if’s were really WTH did I just do, what am I doing, I can just got out on a friends boat! Mike looked at me and calmly said, “You can do anything, you want to do, I believe in you!” Those words brought back all those fishing trips with my family and my dad teaching me how to fish, watching him and remembering my dad saying, “you will never know unless you try.”

So, I come down the driveway towing a boat, which I have never really towed anything before, let alone back down a boat ramp, and don't even get me started about getting the boat off the trailer by myself!! It was September when we brought home the boat, it stayed hooked up to the truck for a few days, I actually lost sleep thinking just thinking about backing up. I live in a community of fishermen and here I am a girl from Oklahoma that now owns a lobster fishing boat.

It was a Sunday morning, I was up early, told Mike to get ready we were taking the boat for a ride, we loaded up Babs and off we went. Mike was a little confused, he did not realize I meant taking the boat for a ride, actually meant I had been up for many nights finding isolated boat ramps, on non-fishing days so I could actually practice backing down a boat ramp with my boat. We traveled an hour from home to a tiny little town called Lubec, basically it is practically Cananda, I did not want anyone, especially anyone I know to see my first attempts at backing up a trailer.

We arrived, and the fun began. Now, Mike who had supported this entire idea, really knew nothing about backing up a trailer, NOTHING. So, here we are in this town where we did not know a soul and the fun began. I went up and down that boat ramp, side ways, sometimes half straight, up and down, for an hour or more. We laughed and I was completely over thinking the whole thing, to put in perspective how long I spent backing up and down, I had put 2 miles on the odometer. It was fun, I can say I had not really grasped the concept yet, when I looked up and there was a man standing in front of my truck, he was smiling. He said, “I own this little restaurant and we have been watching you for the last hour, we have never seen someone smile so much trying to back up a trailer, please come in and let me buy you a beer, we want to hear your story!” So, I finally parked, and we no longer were strangers in this little town, I was the girl from Oklahoma with a lobster boat. I actually managed to get down the ramp once successfully before we left for the day, it was a huge accomplishment in my book!

I spent the next two months, towing my boat everywhere, I would take it to buy groceries, just to get practice driving with a trailer, I would sneak off to every different town I could find, just to back down the ramp. By November I had put on 1,000 miles “taking my boat for a ride”! It was actually a very cold day in November when I asked a friend if he would help me put the boat in the water. I was a nervous wreck, for the first time, I was backing up the boat at my town marina, with fishermen watching and I was a shaking mess, but I did it! I managed to get the boat off, go for a ride and with some help back on the trailer. I spent there rest of the winter, towing my boat around town, I went over in my mind 10,000 times how to get it off the trailer and tried to patiently wait for Spring.

In reflecting on my ridiculous idea, it truly was not so ridiculous at all. I learned a lot about myself, I learned a lot about the support of friends and community. I feel truly blessed that I live in such a beautiful place that pushed me to do something I TRULY love, I love being on the water. To this day, we still laugh about the fall I learned to tow a boat, the memories we have made will live in our hearts. This is what sets my soul on fire, this is what keeps me connected to nature, this is what grounds me. What sets your soul on fire, what drives you?

All My Best,

Dr. Nicole

Working with Crystals: Black Moonstone

Hello Lovely People!

Today we are going over the properties and used for Black Moonstone.

First, moonstone is black-grey in color and is a translucent stone that is streaky and opaque. It is a type of Labradorite, Black moonstone is found in Madagascar, and it is easily attainable.

Upon getting your first stone, remember to cleanse/clear it, you can move it through sage smoke or incense, place it in rice or even bury in the earth overnight. This stone can be placed in the light of the full moon to energize as well.

Black Moonstone protects and opens your energy field to higher vibrations, and is powerful for connecting with the feminine divine. It also screens out the effects of electromagnetic emanations (cell phones, computers, WiFi, radiation and x-rays. Black moon stone can also assist sensitive people by filtering energetic information that you pick up from others and only perceive what is useful for you.

Physically Black Moonstone increases your stamina, focus and coo-ordination. Also, it is helpful for the digestive system and female reproduction organs. Can aid in stimulation needed for recovery of stroke and be beneficial for Parkinson’s. Traditionally Black Moonstone in useful in balancing the hormones in women’s cycles, this includes all phases of life, puberty through menopause.

Black Moonstone is is associated with the Third Eye Chakra and Soma Chakra.

You can also place Black Moonstone in a grid fashion throughout your home to attract abundance, and to create a calm and peaceful atmosphere, especially helpful with teenagers and focus needed for learning and creativity.

Remember to ask for your stone or crystal’s assistance, set your intention before working with your stones and crystals and cleanse them in between uses.

All Our Best,

Dr. Nicole and Thea

Perspective

Living in Maine has given me many gifts, as well as learning about the seasons and what each one has to offer. While the world climate as a whole seems to be changing, so have the seasons I have grown to love in Maine. After reading Thea’s beautiful words about finding your passion, I realized I have many. One, which is not my first on the list, is flowers. I love flowers, all flowers. I love color. I love hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. Every spring I watch with amazement as little sprigs of green start sprouting out of the ground, saying “hello” from a long winters nap. It is the cycle of life and the internal beauty of it all. As the earth warms and the sun holds it’s space long in the sky, those little sprouts transform themselves and as summer approaches the magic is about to happen.

Now, of course, for years I tended my gardens with a flock of chickens which are rather helpful, but along came Randy (the best black sheep ever). Randy has definitely created some gardening challenges, most of which I approach as a competition. Some days, he does win more than I would like. After not being able to figure out the best way to Randy-proof my beloved gardens and flower pots last year, 2021 was going to be my year. A full week into summer and I AM WINNING!!! (knock on wood). My perineal beds look like fortresses of metal ‘decorative’ fencing, endless amounts of bamboo sticks, odd yard pieces blocking the ‘weaker’ areas of protection. They look amazing. Go team Nicole. While I have spent hours weeding, edging and improving my soil to make those gardens flourish, there is something more about flowers that I love.

There is a magical feeling in the air when the end of spring is near and the green houses start to open. The anticipation of seeing the color and the smell of nature after a winter hibernation. It expands the senses and reminds me everyday about the cycle of life. Of course, in planning my annual flowers, which are simply a labor of love. I lug out all my pots from the shed, prepare them with fresh soil and get ready for opening day. I find myself at my favorite greenhouse the day the flowers arrive, of course living in a small town, I keep in close contact with the owner!! It could be rain or shine, but I am there picking out all colors of the rainbow, smiling from ear to ear, talking to the flowers and filling my cart. Once my truck is full and my heart is happy, off I go. I spend the next few days mixing colors and figuring out how to protect them from Randy, he loves flowers too. This has been a great year for my flower pots, protected from Randy, they are flourishing in the summer sun! Since this summer has decided it is going to be the hottest one on record, watering has become very much a full time job. Can you imagine it takes 3 hours a day, to water flowers and all the animals? It has become part of my exercise routine lugging around 300 feet of hose and IT IS WORTH every second!! Even on the dark foggy Maine days my flowers are bright and cheerful making my soul smile. It truly is a passion enjoying what nature has to offer. I am looking forwards to what lies ahead for the summer and I don't even get me started talking about Fall Mums!!! While this seems like work, it is what helps keep me in nature, keeps me outside and remembering with care we can all keep blooming, even when the flowers fade there are deep roots that keep us planted.

All My Best,

Dr. Nicole

Working with Crystals: Clear Quartz

Good day lovely people! Dr. Nicole and I are starting to bring new tools to the website to assist you in your healing. We will slowly be rolling out new things for you over the next couple of months. Today we are starting by adding with Working with Crystals to your tool box.

Many of you may already know this information, but sometimes a quick review will also give you a needed reminder of a crystal’s properties or just a word that resonates with an intention you feel you need to make.

If you are new to working with crystals please enjoy the information that you find here, and let it lead you to explore if it captures your attention.

Today we start with Clear Quartz, due to its specificl crystalline structure it is the most powerful healing and energy amplifying crystal. It can be found all over the world and is known to be called the universal crystal do to its many uses. It is able to enhance energy by absorbing, storing, amplifying, balancing, focusing and transmitting it.

This crystal is helpful to the body, mind, and spirit. For healing it is helpful with any condition for it helps with the immune system and helps bring your body back into balance. It helps to cleanse and purify as well. I can be used for any part of the body and chakra. For the mind it improves concentration, and balances it with the body and spirit. For the spirit, it helps raise your energy to its highest level, back into harmony and balance, before you knew dis-ease.

Clear quartz is also helpful in the amplification of properties with all other crystals when they are used together.

To start working with this crystal, choose one that calls to you. Crystals need to be cleared of any energy that they have come in contact with or previous use, you are going to be creating a ‘blank slate” so to speak to work on the energy you want to work with. You can do this by running this crystal under the tap, in a water fall, cleansing it in the ocean or other salt water, smudging or letting it sit under a full or new moon. Please choose what ever cleansing technique call to you.

After this is done, sit with the piece of Quartz in your hand or on any part of the body you wish to focus on, it should be rather easy, quartz with help you with your focus as well. Be clear on what you would like assistance with. Remember it can be used anywhere one the body, for need of clarity for the mind, and helps raise your spiritual energy in matters in this area as well.

Make sure you give yourself enough time to work with your crystal, that your words, prayers and intentions are clear, you feel that you have been heard and have allowed the changes that you are seeking to start to take place for you. Trust yourself to know this has started.

Quartz is also helpful when you focus on an affirmation or mantra in regards of what you would like assistance with.

Questions to ponder:

What would you like to have healing assistance with?

Do you need something to come into focus? into balance?

Do you need assistance in spiritual work?

Love and Blessings,

Thea

Please let us know if there is additional information you would like about crystals themselves, we will have a Q&A answering post as well!