During my time on retreat last week, I had the realization that over the past year I've cultivated a deeper relationship with myself - particularly with my intuition. You know that part of you that has an inner knowing if what is real and true? You have heard it referred to as your gut or your oracle. It can live in your heart, your belly, or even your lady parts (<-- mine lives there!).

Your intuition likely has a quiet voice .

A voice that can be drowned out with the stress of work, fear, or numbing agents like food, drugs, and alcohol. But the thing about your intuition is it never goes away. She's always there, letting you know what your truth is.

For a long time, I thought I didn't have intuition.

I was living a life full of anxiety, stress, hormonal silencing (more on this in a later post, it's a doozie!) and forms of numbing. Because once you hear your intuition, it's hard not to listen. Mine, of course, was telling me about this new life that awaited me - one full of joy and freedom and wonder. And, in order to get that life, I knew I would have to make some pretty big (and scary) decisions. So a little dose of fear with a pinch of numbing agents was my go-to until I finally decided to go for it and align my life with what my intuition had been telling me all along.

What happened next was pretty amazing. I've been able to build a business around doing what I love, help people re-align with their own intuitive knowing, and fall even more in love with my life (my body, my marriage, my community, and my business). And all it took was listening to my body and aligning with heart.

Along the way, I've been tested to see just how committed I was to alignment.

Back in January, a popular petroleum jelly brand offered me a lot of money to write a blog post on beauty products made with petroleum jelly. I was early in building my business, and the money looked pretty nice to have in my bank account. But when I even thought about writing about putting a derivative of the toxic oil refining process on your skin, my stomach would tighten and my heart would race. My intuition was screaming "don't do it!". And, even though I needed the money, I declined the offer and kept focusing on what felt good and aligned.

I offer this to you in the hope that it will inspire you to create space to listen to your own body's intuitive knowing.  Have you ever had experience with coming into alignment with your body and heart after spending some time on vacation from your intuition? I'd love to hear from you!

I'm proud of myself for waiting until the official autumn equinox to dive into the pumpkin craze. But fall is here, and I'm ready to get down with some gourds.  This recipe is for all your PSL devotees that still want your fix without all the gunk in it...and it can be adapted to be caffeine free

Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte

• 1 c. freshly brewed coffee (or you can blend caffeine-free Dandy Blend)
• 1/2 c. coconut cream (place 1 can of coconut milk in the fridge overnight, then scrape the cream off the top)
• 2 tbsp pumpkin puree
• 1 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/8 tsp ground ginger
• 1/8 tsp cardamom
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1.4 tsp nutmeg

Combine all the ingredients and mix vigorously. I blended mine with an immersion blender, but have also placed it all in a large mason jar and shook it for 60 seconds.

Serve immediately.