TOOLS WITH HEART NEWSLETTER
Mothers Day
"On my birthday, she'd always buy me something I didn't really want – like some frilly gingham dress or pink fuzzy slippers. I would have preferred a simple wristwatch. She never really knew me. She wanted me to be somebody else. Now that she is gone I confess, I treasure those fuzzy slippers. They were just her way of loving me." ~ Vivian
In This Issue:
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HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
The spirit of mothering expresses itself in a multitude of ways: from birthing our own children to caretaking others, from nurturing animals and the earth to creating art, music and poetry.
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Flower – Fruit – Seed – A Woman's Journey
A common natural metaphor used to describe a woman's journey is the flower/fruit/seed motif. When we are the young maiden, we are the flower, blooming with rich color. When we mature into the mother we are the fruit, actively bringing forth new life. When we age into the crone/wise woman, we are the seed, holding the key to rebirth, to the knowledge for creation. All three reflect procreation in various stages.
Spring Exercise
Gather some flowers, fruits and seeds and study them. Describe your prejudices and preferences about each. Is the fruit more alive than the seed? Does the flower beckon you? Does the seed seem less than vital? Can you see each as a source of new beginnings? Consider opening your eyes to the beauty, creativity and power of each stage of growth.
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New! Serendipi-tea and Free Spring Journal
To celebrate Mother's Day and Spring, we introduce the extraordinary Serendipi-tea Gift Basket and other great gift ideas with Tools With Heart.
Our gift to you - a $16. value:Spring Journal: Season of New Beginnings, a hardbound journal with hand-knotted tassel free with the purchase of the Serendipi-tea Gift Basket or any product valued at $25. or more.
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REFLECTIONS ON OUR MOTHERS – 3 Thoughtful Journal Exercises
Oh No, I've Become Her!
Women often say that their biggest fear is that they may become like their mothers. This is because as daughters we may see more of what we don't like about our mothers than what we do like. It's interesting how we may feel overly criticized by our mothers when we may be the ones doing much of the criticizing. To reframe things a little, consider this: What have you gleaned from your mother that reflects her best stuff? What are her finest shining qualities? Think about intangibles too, such as her way of relating to beauty, her optimism, her cutting humor, her kindness. How have these qualities manifested themselves in you? Maybe that's not quite so bad.
Her Sequined Glass Case
If you had to choose one special item that represents your mother, one something that she cherished, used a lot, wore with pride, or even hid in the cupboard and admired from a distance, what might it be? Did she have a wonderful scarf? A weathered pair of shoes? A treasured keepsake from her own mother? How did she interact with this object? Describe this symbolic something. Now elaborate on how it reflects your mother's unique tastes, priorities, and being.
Things My Mother Would Have Told Me If She Only Knew
My mother taught me logic. "If you fall off that swing and break your neck, you can't go to the store." My mother taught me medicine. "If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they're going to freeze that way." My mother taught me to think ahead. "If you don't pass your algebra test, you'll never get a good job." My mother taught me ESP. "Put your sweater on, don't you know that I know when you're cold?" My mother taught me to meet a challenge. "What were you thinking? Answer me when I talk to you. Don't talk back to me!" My mother taught me about humor. "When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me." My mother taught me how to become an adult. "If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up." My mother taught me about justice. "One day you will have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you, then you'll see what it's like." ~ CyberWisdom
What do you wish your mother had told you, if she only knew? What questions would you ask her about friends and family, about health, about money, about love? This is a unique reflection of the past that brings forth light for each new generation.
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Free shipping on orders over $35.00 - Guaranteed delivery for Mother's Day.
Place your order before Wed. May 7th at noon PST - we'll wave ALL shipping and handling fees and you'll receive your order by Saturday May 10th! (continental 48 US states only)
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GREAT MOTHER'S DAY GIFT IDEAS
Gifts From the Heart:
Silk
Brocade Slippers
Treasure
Box
Crystal
Lily Minx Pen
Botanical
Candle
Heartbeat
Pillow
Tools for Relaxation:
Meditation
Pillow Set
Neck
& Eye Pillows
Music
for Relaxation CD
New Journals:
Old
Leather Wrap Blank Journal
Hand-Stitched
Blank Journal
Boxed
Set of Seasonal Journals
New! – Selected Books on Journaling to complement your journal of choice.
Our Favorite Gifts:
Woman's
Book of Changes with complementary refill: Reflections on Our Mothers Refill
– See excerpts below
Reflections
for New Mothers Notebook Journal – for the new moms
on your list!
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FEATURED GUEST ENTRY
"Today was the first day I woke and knew you were there. I wonder if you are a boy or a girl and what you will look like. How wonderful it will be for you to read this journal when you are older. It is my gift to you." ~ Linda Walker, Personal Journaling
And so begins an intimate dialogue between a mother and her newly formed child, still unborn. The arrival of a new child in a family marks the birth of a mother as well. Both enter into a brave new world of excitement, doubt, joy and expectation. Both begin a complex and beautiful journey, bringing to life a vast range of emotions that otherwise may not be experienced.
Following are samples of journal exercises from Reflections for New Mothers that will deepen her relationship to her child and start to build a treasure trove of daily experience that becomes a private document of her evolving family history.
Bless the Child
Write a blessing or personal prayer to your new child. Allow yourself to sit in the shimmering silence of your own inner peace. Allow that space to feed you the words. Let them come forth and express in your own poetry the song of love you wish to share. It may be as simple as "May you know long life and love in abundance," or as complex as you like.
Who Gets the First Kiss?
"I guess I always knew that I would instinctively love my child as soon as she was born, but I didn't know and couldn't have imagined how wonderful and overwhelming it would feel to fall in love with her as she grew." ~ Debbie
As you and your mate fall in love with another person, your baby begins to get all the attention! New love bonds are forming that can disrupt the emotional balance between you and your mate, not to mention sleep deprivation, frazzled nerves and changes in libido. But remember that the bond between you and your mate is the foundation in which your baby will thrive.
Write a few love coupons that you could insert in a pocket, a Day Runner calendar page or under a pillow. It will do the three of you good!
Some Ideas:
Good for one date night – just the two of us!
Good for one "sleep in"
Good for one movie night – "you pick"
Good for 4 hours of peace and quiet – no interruptions!
Use your imagination. And don't forget to make up some for yourself.
Good for one Saturday alone
Good for 10 minutes to be a whiny complainer
You'll find these exercises and plenty of blank paper to whine and moan, rant, rave and cry for joy in Tools With Heart's Reflections for New Mothers. Combine it with a Music to Relax CD, or Cozy Organic Cotton Throw for the perfect Mother's Day Gift for the new mom.
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SPRING: SEASON OF NEW BEGINNINGS
Each spring season is unique and full of promise offering us the opportunity to begin again, to cleanse ourselves of old possessions, behaviors and attitudes and set a course for a year of fulfillment and happiness.
We may find ourselves yearning for a new job, a new home, a new baby or even a new relationship. We may feel confined by our winter-softened bodies and want to be sleeker, stronger and to restore color to our skin.
Our Spring Journal , written by Peggy Wynne Borgman gives you tips on how to blend flower oils to create a healing aromatic fragrance, whip up a spring juice cleanser to rid the body and mind of congestion and toxins, and create a garden altar to acknowledge, honor and enjoy all that is green, alive and growing.
Spring Cleanser
2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1-2 Tablespoons pure natural maple syrup (don't use honey)
A pinch of cayenne pepper
8 ounces of warm spring water or filtered water (not distilled)
This classic cleanser recipe is considered to be one of the best for the liver; you'll want to consume six to twelve glasses per day, along with copious amounts of clear water.
We haven't forgotten to include journal tips (and plenty of blank spring journal paper) to ask yourself in springtime. It is yours free when you order any of our Mother's Day gifts of valued at ($25.00 or more).
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JOURNAL ENTRY CONTEST – FREE GIFTS
Send us a journal entry on the following topic:
Things My Mother Would Have Told Me If She Only Knew
All entries will receive your choice of one of our Mood Pads:
Passion Sheets, Blue Notes, Worry Lines, or RAGE PAGES
Send your journal entry to: felice@toolswithheart.com
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"I saw this elderly woman standing on the top of the steps to the library. I was concerned and asked if she needed any help. "No," she said, "I'm waiting for my child." And how old is this child? "She is 72. I'm 94. Once a child, always a child." ~ Elaine
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Felice Willat writes the Tools With Heart newsletter. We encourage you to forward it to your friends and family who may benefit from it. We only request that you keep it intact including our contact and copyright info.
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