Good Morning All!

Under this new moon I am feeling compelled to discuss nutrition, as lately I have been really focusing on it and the universe has been sending me many people in need of some nutritional guidance.

For those that don’t know I am also a CNC- “Certified Nutritional Consultant”.  I trained with the Institute of Integrated Nutrition, but also self trained with many years of my own experience with food, diet & exercise.

Working out is fantastic, but nutrition is WAY more important.  Think: 80% nutrition 20% exercise – this is truth.

For years I was performing high intensity workouts (kickboxing, martial arts, kettle bell training, etc) and while I was “solid”, I just wasn’t really shrinking or having much visible muscle definition.  I was definitely gaining muscle, but I felt I was looking more solid and not really toned if that makes sense.

I completely revamped my eating (notice I won’t say diet as it’s truly a lifestyle change, a conscious decision to just overall feel better) and only then did my muscles become more visible!

By cutting out all processed foods (that means basically anything from a package!) and refined sugar, and by adding a lot of greens, I lost excess weight and the muscles started showing. But most importantly, I felt great!  My mind was more sharp, I was sleeping better and I felt so clear!

My story in a nutshell if you’re interested:

So who am I? Besides being an intuitive reader/tarot reader/instructor,  I am also a holistic health & wellness coach as well as a certified nutritional consultant, and a foodie.

Aside from my training at The Integrative Institute of Nutrition (IIN), I am also self trained from many years of my own curiosity and experience.  I am also very passionate about food and love to cook.  I am constantly tweaking recipes with all of the amazing natural herbs and spices that the culinary world has to offer.

I grew up in a large Italian household where the emphasis was always on (you guessed it ) FOOD!  Food was love.  I grew up chunky.  It got increasingly harder for me as I got older.  I always felt like the “fat girl”.

Then one day at the the age of 22, I decided to get it together and figure out why my low calorie approach and “healthy” diet just was not working. Something was wrong- Why could I not shed the weight and keep it off?  I was simply eating just to eat, never thinking of the value or consequence of what I was putting into my body.

I started reading a bunch of different diet/nutrition books , used some aspects from several different sources and my intuition, and I lost 50 pounds in SIX MONTHS!

But while I looked healthier (or so I thought) I really did not feel good and even ended up in the hospital with a bit of a scare…you see,  I had a little knowledge on what worked, but I applied it improperly.

Now I am in my mid thirties and have managed to keep all of that weight off (and then some!) and feel like I am in the best shape of my life physically, mentally and spiritually.  And you can feel this way too!  It’s all about discovery & recovery.

Food is love, yes, but only when it’s the kind of foods that are nourishing your mind, body and soul, but also, they must taste good!  You just won’t feel good when you are eating anything.

I would love to share more with you and help you on your journey to eat well, live well and BE WELL!

Having said that I strongly believe in the concept of bio-individuality – meaning one persons pleasure is another persons poison and the same eating style won’t work for everyone- you need to play with it and tweak it to see what helps you & your body. But more importantly , what helps to keep your mind sharp?

I’ve always been highly intuitive but if my nutrition suffers or gets neglected for too long , guess what happens?  I feel fog-brain, run down and depleted.  I feel like I am not functioning properly and I am not vibrating optimally.  This is not good, and I try to avoid it at all costs.

I have learned over the years to really practice intuitive eating-or as I like to say-intuition nutrition.

Eat for nourishment but also eat what you are craving within reason.  That means: don’t just eat to eat.  Listen to your gut more  

I try to avoid dairy as much as possible.  I LOVE cheese, but when I consume it, it lowers my vibration.  I feel fog brain, stuffy and just overall icky.  So I try to limit it as much as possible , and I certainly will not eat it right before or during the working day of seeing clients.

I don’t really have a sweet tooth (thankfully) but when the mood strikes, I go for some dark chocolate (70% 0r higher if you can tolerate is best).  I’m a sucker for 80% and higher,  I genuinely enjoy the taste plus there are some major health benefits to dark chocolate.

OR- I will bake a treat omitting sugar and just using a little honey or unsweetened maple syrup and that does it.

If you are craving salt your sodium levels are likely a little depleted especially if you exercise heavily and/or sweat a lot.  We often don’t realize how some cravings are literally our bodies way of getting our attention- “helloooo-  we are lacking and I need this”.

I promise,  by just becoming more conscious of what you are putting into your mouth and why, you will start to feel just overall healthier!

If you’re interested,  here is a link to the man and book that changed.my.life– literally.  If you want to feel amazing , perform better at the gym and at life in general, sleep more soundly and just feel more alive- check him out and try it out.

If none of this interests you -at least try the concept of intuitive eating.  If you REALLY want that donut, stop and ask yourself: “do I really crave the taste of this donut? Is this donut adding value to my life or am I addicted to the sugar high that comes with it”?  If you do eat the donut, really pay attention to the hour afterwards and how you feel, and if you don’t eat the donut pay attention to how you feel- and the answer will come to you as to why you feel you need that donut.  This is the place where your intuition will kick in.  I get it, sometimes you just want the donut. More than likely- most of the time-it’s not about the donut.

If you would like a session strictly about your nutritional needs, contact me and we will set up a time to chat

Love & Light,

Lisa

Happy Birthday Taurus!

Today 4/20, lasting until 5/20 is Taurus season, my favorite time of the year for several reasons.  Reason one:  obviously I am a Taurus!  Reason two: I just truly love this time of year.  The days are longer, the sun is brighter, the birds seem to chirp louder. Spring has truly sprung and it just feels good!

Taurus ruling symbol is the Bull- and bullheaded Taurus are!   ( I can hear my mothers voice right now what she has said about me since childhood “Lisa always does what she wants”)!

*If your rising sign is Taurus or your Moon is in the sign of Taurus a lot of this applies to you as well. To find your chart placements you can use a free service such as www.Astro.com*

As a fixed sign Taurus are very steady and dependable, but also very stubborn!   The element that rules Taurus is Earth, and down-to-earth and logical they are, possessing extreme common sense and rationale.  However, once they are fixated on something just try and change their mind! The bull is obstinate and won’t switch positions quickly or easily.  This sign also has a built in BS detector and are great judges of character.  Taureans seem to operate on one of two speeds: fully charging towards their target, or just simply relaxed. Typically there is no in between.

We are also known for our temper- this sign will take a bunch of Bull-Crap before we blow our top.  But when we do watch out!  The rage comes on quickly, yet subsides just as quickly.  Really though, Taurus have a heart of gold and underneath the tough armor is a person of great strength and character.

Ruled by the planet of Venus, the goddess of love and beauty, Taureans are very earthy and sensual.  This sign loves creature comforts and nature.  Good food, good wine and good loyal company is all Taurus really need to be happy. Notice the emphasis on the word loyal.  That’s another famous Bull trait – loyal to a fault.  You don’t have to worry about this sign turning their back on you. When the chips are down you can always count on the Bull’s in your life to be there for you.

At their worst (yes even us Taurus have our tarnished side ? ) we can be lazy, way too stubborn, possessive, indulgent and sometimes greedy and selfish when we want our way!  Due to our role as a fixed sign, we cannot help but to maintain, defend and uphold our positions.  Because of this, we can hold on way too tightly to expired situations and circumstances that are no longer serving us or others.  Fixed signs are always the least welcoming of change!  They are very hesitant to switch away from the tried and true, even to their detriment  ( FYI- other fixed signs are Leo, Scorpio & Aquarius).

 In the Tarot, Taurus rules The Hierophant,-Card Number 5 of The Major Arcana

As a “5”- this card represents a teacher, a seeker of esoteric wisdom.  Symbolically most experts on the meaning of numbers feel that 5s have a strong feminine side with masculine undertones.  This can definitely be seen here with this card.  *All Tarot cards can represent either sex.

The Hierophant is the archetype of wisdom, a pilar of strength.  This is a wise person, someone who gives very sound advice and is a known counselor.  Tradition is also what the Hierophant is known for.  Spirituality also plays a major role with the presence of the Hierophant.  

When the Hierophant comes up in a Tarot spread to represent a person, know that you are dealing with a wise soul- a person of grace and integrity.  I have seen the Hierophant represent Ministers, Priests and Pastors in readings. Commonly this card represents a Marital Counselor or Psychologist as well, and often times,  a Spiritual Advisor & Healer will be represented by the Hierophant.

Make no mistake that this card is ruled by Taurus.  Taureans from a very young age are often known as “old souls”, and people that give great advice.  Quite a few counselors fall under the sign of the Bull, as Taurus truly love helping people sort out their issues, and in turn, helping them to sort out their own!  Most Taurus are also very traditional, and as much as they like to have fun, playing by the rules is just as essential.

While we are under the influence of this zodiac sign for the upcoming weeks, patience and persistence are the name of the game.  Stay calm and collected, and keep working towards your goals.  More importantly: remember to get out in nature!

Everything should feel a little calmer at this time. Remember though- we are still in some sensitive times astrologically, so try not to let your horns come out prematurely!  It will be easy to get agitated, but try to resist the impulse to lash out.

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Love & Light,

Lisa

Full Moon in Libra tomorrow 4/11 at the wee hours of the morning-2:08 AM, EST.

This moon is a very auspicious and fortunate one!  This is especially so if you are a Libra, your rising sign is Libra or your moon is in the sign of Libra.  This is your moon!  Time to release and realign.

So, exactly why is this full moon so “lucky”?  It is sitting extremely close (conjunct) to the planet of Jupiter.  Jupiter is the planet of growth, luck, abundance and expansion.  Also fate and chance. The moon conjunct Jupiter in Libra at this time means : people feel good and optimistic.

Chance meetings are likely under this full moon/Jupiter influence-unexpected blessings and forms of abundance coming towards you are no accident!  Opportunity is knocking!

The sign of Libra is ruled by the element of air, which is the mental element.  Find me a Libra that is not logical and practical- go ahead , I dare you ?  Why am I saying this? Libra needs balance, Libra needs tangible evidence and proof that what you see is what you get.  Under this Libra Full Moon, you need to trust.  You need to have faith.  You need to maintain balance, but above all else you may need to take a chance because luck and fate will collide under this Full Moon influence.  Libra is all about equality so at this time it is wise to try and see the other point(s) of view, rather than only looking through the lens of one scope: yours!

As this Full Moon is in Libra, it is all about balance!  If the scales are tipped more one way than the other (personal, career, family, etc), then it’s time to bring it all back to a workable place for you.  In order to feel more peaceful and more secure, you will need to ask yourself some honest questions.  This is a great time to be doing this.  Ask yourself: where has all of my attention been focused lately?  Am I feeling grounded?  Am I feeling secure or insecure and how can I attempt to correct this? What area(s) do I need to expend more energy towards?

*This is a very lucky moon with lots of positive energy but you must leave the house and get out there and socialize!  Use this energy wisely- this is a great time to try something new especially if the universe has been subtly (or not so subtly) nudging you along a certain path/direction.

Full Moon energy is very cleansing as it’s a time of reflection and release. Energetically, it purges the soul because the time leading up to and the time of the Full Moon, emotions rise up and surge to the surface to be purged and hopefully healed.  As we move into the next cycle, it’s a great time to write down that what we wish to change, get rid of , and then bring into our lives.  It’s all about the balance!

*Sidenote-  Mercury has gone retrograde as of yesterday 4/9 and will not go direct until 5/3.   But don’t panic!  Just use this time to slow down.  Look at this as a time to reevaluate, reflect, release and realign!  This is actually a gift.

Have a wonderful week!

Happy Saturday!

There’s another cosmic S%&T STORM about to go down, so hang on to your sanity as tight as you can!  For real, it’s not that bad but like I always say- there is always a divine order to the madness and forewarned is forearmed! ?  As of 4/9, we are under the influence of four retrograde planets!

Mercury, our planet of communication and ruler of all electronics and travel goes retrograde (backwards) from Taurus to Aries starting 4/9-5/3.  This particular aspect is talked about the most in astrology and for good reason: we all start to notice it’s effects like it or not!  It also happens four times per year.  This is universal, felt by everyone. Basically what this means is that all of the areas that Mercury governs do not play by the normal rules at this time.  So communication, travel, electronics of all forms especially computers, tend to not function optimally at this time and with many snafus occurring .  Mail tends to get delayed or just does not end up at its intended destination!  *Pay extra attention to these areas at this time to avoid any potential turmoil and all should be well. See, not so bad!  Our card and message for the Mercury Retro is the Magician.

                     The Magician is Numero Uno of The Tarot, The Major Arcana

The Magician is ruled by the planet Mercury (HA)!  With this card and the timing of it , under this particular retrograde, communication is the name of the game.  Knowing what to say, how to say it , and when to say it will be the most crucial at this time.  You may find yourself saying things you will wish you can take back if you are not careful.  Truly think before you speak!  Sensitivity is abound  and you do not want to complicate your emotional world.  For some people, you may experience a hoarseness in your throat, with the need to constantly clear it.  This is your throat chakra getting ready to speak some truths- to communicate.  As long as you stay in your light, all will be well.  * The astrological signs that Mercury and the Magician rule are Gemini and Virgo.  

Keep in mind though, we are still in Venus Retrograde until 4/15!  Venus is the planet that rules love and finances (scroll back a few posts and you can read about that). Our card for the time of Venus Retrograde has been and will continue to be, The Empress.

                                         Card Number Three, The Empress                                  

The Empress is all about abundance, bringing things to fruition.  She’s a Goddess, after all.  An earth mama, bringing the spiritual to the physical plane.  The Empress is ruled by Venus, the planet of love and finances.  As we are still under the influence of Venus retrograde, love and money are still under scrutiny.  The Empress is here to ask us: what have we been doing in these areas over the past few weeks?  Have we learned any lessons?  Are we feeling differently?  Ready to make some changes?  Spiritually? Physically?  Emotionally?  She’s here today to bring us the promise of new beginnings, it’s a new season for growth and change.  Once Venus goes back into Pisces, we can breathe a sigh of relief.   Just a few more weeks, 4/15 we are out!  Venus does not like to be in Aries.* The astrological signs that Venus and The Empress rule are Taurus and Libra.  

Saturn – our “teacher” planet, the planet of Karma- is also retrograde beginning 4/6 and lasts all the way until 8/26!   Saturn can really kick some karmic ass and whenever it is retrograde: take heart.  This is a time for deep soul searching.  A time to assess and figure out what needs to change, and implement these changes once Saturn turns direct. Since Saturn is referred to as “Lord Karma”, consider the retro period a double-dose of karma!  Any wrong doings might come back to haunt you, but only if you choose not to learn from them and correct them going forward.  There’s opportunity here for tremendous soul growth by not repeating past patterns and mistakes.  Likewise, with any and all good you do, you may just receive a nice-golden-karma- nugget when Saturn goes direct! Not too shabby, eh?  Our card for the Saturn Retrograde is The Devil.

                                           Card Number Fifteen, The Devil

The Devil is all about the karmic baggage we are carrying around, what we feel tied and bound to.  These can be patterns or physical things, addictions.  As Saturn is the planet of karma and it rules the Devil, need I say more?  During this time of the retrograde, sit back and reflect.  If you are unhappy with yourself or your patterns, under this astrological influence you should be feeling the need to re-evaluate and break the ties that bind you.  You are strong and you are powerful enough to break free.  If there are things you need to say or do, put your thoughts and words into action.  *The astrological sign that Saturn and The Devil rule is Capricorn.

Lastly- we have Jupiter which is also retrograde from 2/7-6/10.  Jupiter is the planet of abundance , expansion and luck.  Fate, if you will.  When Jupiter is retrograde, it urges us to go inward- to seek out our spiritual truths, our philosophies on life and our beliefs.  It is time to find the deeper meaning in all aspects of our lives.  This is a time when we should slow down and take stock.  Once Jupiter goes direct, it’s a better time to take some chances and some risks.  Our card for Jupiter retrograde is The Wheel Of Fortune.

                                       Card Number Ten, Wheel Of Fortune

The Wheel Of Fortune is all about fate. Magic.  The Wheel turns, but where does it stop?  Nobody knows.  Anything can happen under the influence of The Wheel, and also, the influence of Jupiter!  So with Jupiter retrograde anything can happen!  Be prepared for the unexpected as you try and navigate any and all opportunities that come to you at this time.  Do not be hasty!  As long as you are taking the time to really think things through, and identifying your feelings along the way, you will have a more clear perspective on where and how to move forward.  Do not be surprised if opportunities fall in your lap at this time!  Make sure to read the fine print and you will enjoy the benefits of Jupiter.

As I have been telling everyone, we are under some very sensitive times.  It is not selfish to take care of yourself.  If you do not take the time to do self-maintenance, you WILL burn out!  Everyone is feeling pressure in different ways, and trying to be “perfect” will only bring you inner turmoil.  Embrace YOU in all of your messy glory!  

Stay Well!

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