Actively participate in being the change you wish to see in the world and co-create a thriving planet by buying items from fair trade companies who see beyond a sustainable world to a regenerative, thriving one.

Boho Goddesses are high vibe, self-aware women who love to express themselves authentically… with their voices and with their fashion choices. Global Groove Life salutes the empowered women around the world are leading the way towards a brighter future.

Apply the ancient wisdom of sacred plants to your daily life with wrist malas. Seeds contain all of the wisdom and potential energy of the entire tree or plant condensed into a tiny package! The seeds from trees that are considered sacred will nurture your spiritual side and support your journey of awakening.

We are the change we have been waiting for. Global Groove Life brought sustainable home decor to Woke Folks Festival - a consciously co-created international community gathering full of love, art, knowledge, and compassionate communication.

Enigmatic, bold, regal, intuitive, and spiritual - just like you. Global Groove Life encourages you to step forward into 2018 with the color of the year - ultra violet - as your ally.

Practical and encouraging support as you renew your outlook on life in 2018. Expectation- and pressure-free, step-by-step advice that you can use at will (or not!) to refresh and revitalize yourself, step outside the box and into the life of your dreams!

As the wheel of the year continues to roll on, we in the northern hemisphere are nesting and preparing for the darker months. Time to go within, connect with ancestors, and prepare for the coming of a new year. All of these things are much easier to do in a safe and sacred container. In this article Global Groove Life shares how you can incorporate ancient wisdom and herbal healing into your life via the use of incense to create a space of sacredness for yourself and your loved ones.

Sanctuary of Scents

Creating your dream home is totally possible! It’s important to keep in mind your style preferences and how you want to feel in your space. Energetics are just as important as visual aesthetics!

You can maintain your home sanctuary with traditional techniques - like burning incense to keep things just the way you like them. Stay true to your values and enjoy a more peaceful ambiance with all natural herbal incense. Global Groove Life (GGL) has a curated collection of hand crafted Tibetan and Nepalese incense for you to choose from to help you create a clean, conscious vibe in your home or office.

Home For The Holy Days

The months of October and September are noted as being special times of the year around the world. These are times when there is less separation between worlds than usual and when spirit communication is easier to perceive. Many groups celebrate holy days during this time of the year.

All Hallow’s Eve, for example, is the night when the dead can supposedly return to walk the Earth once more. Dia de los Meurtos is a celebration honoring those who have passed on and their return to this world. Samhain is a Pagan Sabbat (holy day) marking the end of the harvest and entrance into the dark time of year. It is a time to honor those who came before us and is recognized as the day when the veil between the worlds is the thinnest.

Across cultures these days are honored with a combination of group celebration and personal ritual. Purification and cleansing are important parts of both collective ceremony and individual practice. Smudging with the smoke of sacred herbs is a powerful way to purify yourself and your space. Sage is commonly used as a smudge or incense for cleansing and protection.

Space For The Sacred

Many cultures have a custom of ritual purification. Smoke from sacred herbs like sage and resins like frankincense cleanses impurities and removes negative energy - both from people and from spaces like your meditation room.

Including incense on your altar is a wonderful aesthetic addition and is also very practical. The incense can be used to purify the space and as a devotional offering to your ancestors and any deities you honor. In several traditions, smoke is believed to carry prayers up to the Divine!

Certain scents are particularly well known and celebrated for their spiritual purity and uplifting abilities. Frankincense releases powerful positive energy and creates space for spiritual growth, wisdom, and meditation. Another popular incense for your spiritual altar is sandalwood. Sandalwood has a rich scent that invites spiritual awareness, development of psychic abilities, and deep meditation.

What scents create a feeling of comfort and purity for you? Share in the comments and remember to order your favorites from GGL!

 

 

Amara Evans is a vibrational healer, collective consciousness-raiser, and devotee of the Goddess. She loves to connect with her global community through writing and speaking about important topics like the environment, spirituality, and fair trade.

Moms on the go, we’ve got to hand it to you. It takes a lot of coordination, a lot of patience, a lot of strength, and a whole lot of love to travel with your family in tow! Proper preparation and the right attitude can make your trip a joyful experience for everyone. Here are 4 must-have items we hope will make your journey a little smoother so you can focus on keeping all your ducks in a row.

A Waterproof Toiletry Bag

Not having one of these has ruined many a mother’s day! Imagine arriving in your hotel after a long day - or days - of travel with the family and opening your suitcase full of clothes, shoes, jewelry, and personal items to find that everything inside is saturated with shampoo or worse still with some sort of body oil.

Finding a way to immediately wash all of your clothes in a new place can be time consuming and especially stressful when you’re wondering whether or not you’ll need to get rid of some or all of your gear. Plus who wants to start a new adventure by doing laundry?

Believe us, we understand that if anybody can handle a gooey mess it’s a mom - but why go there when you don’t have to? Some sloppy disasters are avoidable. Using a waterproof toiletry bag like Global Groove Life’s Sac-de-bain will keep any unexpected explosions or leaks contained and protect your belongings from being stained or ruined.

Entertainment for All

Sometimes the thrill of exploring a new place isn’t quite so … well, thrilling for everyone in the family. If the little ones aren’t interested in seeing another museum or site they may love to go play in the park or have a family dance party at the beach. Playing some music they’re familiar with can create a sense of comfort in an unfamiliar place.

GGL has just the solution - the Boozik iPad Portable Bamboo Amplifier! It’s so easy to carry with you and takes little to no time to set up...  it’s cordless and battery-free. This sustainable speaker is made out of bamboo. It sounds great and is lightweight - the perfect combo for travel!

 

If the family is ready to take a break on a rainy day or if one of the young ones (or one of the adults) is feeling homesick or down use the Boozik bamboo amplifier to watch a favorite movie all together to lift everyone’s spirits.

A Bag Identifier

If you happened to buy black suitcases - which is totally silly but still somehow seems like a good idea sometimes - then you’ll need a way to quickly identify which ones belong to you at the airport, bus or train station. GGL has several unique options of bright key rings to help you!

A favorite is this Pom Pom Keychain - it’s cute, it’s colorful, it’s fluffy! Most importantly, it’s hard to miss! Even if you don’t have a generic looking bag, our pom poms and tassels make it super fast and easy for you to quickly locate your luggage in baggage check even if there are a lot of distractions. Easily identifiable bags don't get stolen as often either. Win - win!

A Carry-All Bag

Let’s face it - you’re going to be carrying more with you as a travel mom than you would if you were going solo or traveling with other adults. Even if your kids carry their own clothes, water, and ways to entertain themselves there are still important documents, snacks, and those essential items that you’ve learned never to leave home without.

That means you’re going to need a bag that’s large enough to tote all those goods around with you. And you’re going to want a bag that helps you stay organized and looking stylish. GGL’s Retreat Bag can hold it all!

The retreat bag is the perfect combination of style and function. It features an internal zipped pocket for extra orderliness and two external zip pockets for easy access to items you need on a regular basis. The Retreat Bag has an easy-wipe lining (just in case) inside the stunning Flower of Life patterned exterior.

Traveling with your family is an amazing way to share growth experiences, explore the world, and learn about each member of the family together. We salute all of the modern moms (and dads, too!) who are making this happen and sharing these precious gifts with your loved ones!

We hope this article made your trip planning just a little bit more fun and easy. What is your number 1 travel must-have? Share in the comments!

Amara Evans is a vibrational healer, collective consciousness-raiser, writer, and devotee of the Goddess. She loves to connect with her global community through writing about important topics like the environment, spirituality, and fair trade.

Throughout my travels in Asia this past year, I have dedicated my attention to opening the doors to spirituality -- to learn new ways to calm this crazy mind of mine, to finally find peace, to trust the journey and to accept whatever comes my way. Easy, right? Not so much when you’re constantly stuck in the past or the future -- that could-of, should-of mindset. It’s been a long road but every hurdle I’ve had to face has been nothing short of worth it!

One of the best ways I’ve found to calm my “monkey mind” is the use of a mala, a simple yet powerful addition to my life, that has been extremely helpful when I let my mind get the best of me -- more times than I’m happy to admit!!

The first time I saw a mala, which honestly, was probably on the front cover of a yoga magazine, I had a deep desire to have my own. Yes, maybe I wanted to look perfectly spiritual and zen like the woman on the front cover of that magazine, but either way I knew there was something special and meaningful about owning one.

I did some research on malas since I didn’t want to be ‘that girl’ who owned a ‘fashion’ mala and I learned that mala’s are composed of 108 beads strung together. A guru (larger bead) or a tassel is strung to the bottom. A wrist mala has fewer beads but is used for similar purposes. The beads are a combination of sacred seeds and gemstones all encompassing different significance through symbolism. They have been used by Buddhists and Hindus for centuries as a form of prayer and meditation.

After swooning over mala’s for quite some time, I finally got my own mala a few months ago in Bali! Better yet, I met a healer who offered to teach me how to make one, which to my delight, really helped set me apart from one of those fashion girl mala rockers!  I’m truly in love with my relationship with my mala and it truly has opened my door to peace of mind. Here are some of the ways I have learned how to use my mala:

 

1. Meditation

A mala is a type of meditation and it’s easy to do anywhere you are. Place the mala over your middle and index fingers. Starting at the guru bead or tassel, use your thumb to pull each bead towards you one at a time. Count all 108 beads until you reach the guru bead. It’s recommended to recite a mantra while counting for deeper concentration.

My mala meditation is my go-to in many situations because it’s so easy, quick and effective. I find myself counting my beads in the airport lobby when my flight has been delayed five hours (that’s a lot of counting),  or while I’m people watching while sipping a cup of chai.  I use my mala to help calm my nerves before heading into a crowded, chaotic Indian market for fear of having to bargain, only to most likely be ripped off. If all else fails, just keep counting.

2. Yoga

Wear the mala during your yoga practice or place it in front of your mat as a reminder of your intentions. My mala reminds me of each personal intention I set before my practice. I also use it as a drishti (point of focus) to maintain my concentration.

The use of a mala also offers positive healing energies, which is another beautiful addition to my practice. I chose specific, meaningful sacred seeds when I created my own mala. For example, the red ginger bead (as seen in the picture) reminds me of my intentions of love and the red color keeps my root chakra balanced and energized. I also use my mala as a meditation before or after my practice to solidify the benefits of yoga and the sacred seeds that compose the mala.

3. Daily Reminder

These can be any personal reminders such as intentions, goals, hopes and dreams. The sacred seeds and gemstones represent these different reminders. For example, I love the sacred bodhi seed, which is the “seed of enlightenment” offering a reminder to maintain my awareness and connection to myself and the external environment. When you can’t find a post-it, find your mala!

A mala is also a special reminder of when and where you got them. My mala will always remind me of Bali which has a special mark in my life -- of the place my door to spirituality decided to open wide and inner peace flooded my soul. I also celebrated one year sober the day that I made my mala -- one of the most special reminders I have when I feel like giving up. It reminds me why I made this huge life change to begin with. It will always remind me of the mental obstacles I was finally able to conquer and the future battles I now know I can tackle.

 

 

 4. Everyday

Not only wearing a mala as jewelry, but as an expression of beauty, meaning and the self. I use my mala for everyday affirmations and I wear the beautiful beads in the form of a necklace and wrist malas. As I mentioned above, a mala holds different energies depending on the sacred seeds and gemstones used. A chakra mala or wrist mala (like in the photo below) for instance, is created with gemstones specific to each of the seven chakras and they offer energies for mental and physical balancing.

Wearing a mala each day cultivates positivity and connection. On my journey I have learned to be aware of the different energies surrounding me and of the connection to myself and others. I am finally at a point where I understand that what I put into the world, I receive back. I love when someone asks me about my mala because it’s a chance for me to express who I am and hopefully inspire them to do the same.

 

 

5. As a Gift

Share the beauty of a mala with someone that would appreciate its benefits. It’s a thoughtful gift that keeps on giving and one that can be used anytime and anywhere. This is my favorite kind of gift!

You can purchase a mala or add more meaning by crafting one yourself. Now that I know how to make a mala, I can’t wait to create more and share them with my loved ones. When purchasing or making a mala, carefully choose the sacred seeds that compose it depending on the receiver’s personality and needs. It may also help them to start their own spiritual journey and introduce them to the meaningfulness and energies that a mala offers -- that is always my hope.

I’m incredibly grateful for my experiences abroad and the many different ways of life I have been exposed to. It’s important that I give back and make a difference in the world by giving a fair trade mala or wrist mala. It’s also a great way to start a conversation about the importance of fair trade and contributing to a sustainable economy. Call me crazy, but it’s better than discussing the latest celebrity drama!  Or maybe I’m just walking through a different door!

 

What is your favorite way to use a mala?

 

 

About the Author

Amber Johnson is a yoga enthusiast and passionate traveler. She loves cultural connection, a good laugh and exploring her curiosities. 

Follow her bucket list adventures at This Tiny Backpack.