So, when I finally was pregnant and blessed with a beautiful healthy baby why was I stricken with grief and a longing for the daughter I may never have?

Now as a mom of two boys (who I absolutely adore and would never trade them for anythinggggg) who is starting to think about trying for my third and final baby, these thoughts are coming through again… what if I never have a daughter?

What if I am destined for baseball practice, dump trucks, tree climbing and race cars forever?

As much as I thought I had accepted the possibility of being a boy mom I find myself allowing the thoughts of a pretty pink nursery, bows, ballet and my daughters “Fairy First Birthday” to creep into my mind….

The Story Beneath the Story…

Then I am reminded- gender disappointment is not about wanting a boy or a girl but really, it’s about having the chance to do things differently.

My psyche is disguising the pain, unmet needs and longing I felt in my childhood as a desire for a girl. I am telling myself it’s about cute hairstyles and dresses but really… it’s about me wanting to give a little girl in my lineage the unconditional love, presence and safety that I never received from women.

For those of us longing for a daughter maybe it’s just a symbol of the little girl within us that wants to be seen, loved and cared for. Maybe it’s about being the tender mom to a daughter that you never had. Maybe we see it as a chance to do things right for her…but also for ourselves.

For those of us longing for a son maybe it’s just a symbol of the masculine love we never received. Maybe it’s a chance to be unconditionally loved and needed by a male in a way we never have before. Maybe it’s a chance to build safety with the masculine that you have never been able to cultivate.

Is having a gender preference the most selfish parenting feeling of all?

Our Children as Mirrors

Gender disappointment is really us unconsciously attaching meaning to our children.

Do our children deserve to be born carrying a meaning and a burden that they don’t deserve to carry?

Our children don’t come to fulfill our unmet needs they simply come to reveal them.

Some questions I pondered (and still ponder when this comes up) are:

• What story did I attach to this child inside me?

• What did I believe this child would heal? How can I heal it myself?

• What longing does this disappointment really reveal? What does the little girl inside of me really need right now?

• What part of me is asking to be seen?

The Souls Invitation

I would be lying if I said I don’t still have moments of longing for a daughter. Even when I know deep in my soul the children I have (and will have) were divinely chosen.

The invitation is not to shame ourselves for our feelings but it’s to become curious about what those feelings are trying to teach us.

Trusting and knowing that you and your children chose one another with the purpose and intention of soul growth and healing.

Who’s to say gender disappointment isn’t part of that? Maybe the very reason you had them is so that you could explore these deep emotions you would never be able to access otherwise?

Gender disappointment is real and grieving a version of yourself you thought you would experience is painful.

Don’t allow anyone to make you feel ungrateful or unappreciative. The places in us that ache, are the places that are asking to be loved.

Two things can be true at once: You can feel immense gratitude and love for your baby and feel a longing for the version of you that would get to experience a different type of relationship. That’s ok, and a part of the journey.

THIS is the work I care most about, remembering who we were before we inherited stories that were never ours to carry.

That’s why I created The Lineage Breaker: a 6 week LIVE group container for women ready to gently uncover the patterns they’ve inherited, reconnect with their feminine lineage, and become the ancestor who chooses a different way forward.

More information about The Lineage Breaker is available HERE

Thanks for reading <3

Until next week!

From My Heart to Yours💌

Shayna

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Jupiter only visits Leo once every 12 years!!! Think back to your life in 2014-2015…THAT was the last time you have felt this energy.

With Leo being a fire sign who is bold, courageous, confident and embodies natural born leadership this isn’t a transit where you are meant to stay small.

Leo is ruled by the sun, one of the luminaries in astrology, and literally is inviting you to move into the limelight. It’s about showing up authentically and fully trusting your gifts enough to be seen.

It’s about following what LIGHTS up your soul rather than what keeps you comfortable𖤓

Themes of Jupiter in Leo

• More visibility

• Creative breakthroughs

• Leadership opportunities

• Greater confidence

• More joy and play

• A stronger connection to your purpose

Jupiter expands whatever it touches! So, depending on your rising sign, Jupiter will be transiting a different area of YOUR chart and expanding different themes in your life.

Below is a personalized reading for each of the 12 rising signs ↓ and what themes you can expect to see over the next year

Aries 𓃵

Jupiter will be transiting your 5th house of children and creativity.

This is a creative renaissance!

Remember: Jupiter expands. Leo brings visibility, confidence, creativity, leadership, performance and being seen.

Potential themes:

• Creativity

• Pregnancy/children

• Romance/sensuality

• Joy/child-like spirit

• Creative projects

Possible manifestations of this transit:

• Pregnancy or birth

• Child reaches a milestone/accomplishes something

• Creative project takes off

• Launching a passion project

• Falling deeply in love (with yourself or somebody else)

• Turning a passion project into something real!

• Becoming more playful, expressive, child-like

Overall vibe: life gets more colorful 🌈

Who or what wants to be created through you? How can you connect with your inner child? What really lights you up?

Real example: When I had this transit, I gave birth to my second son <3

Taurus 𓃓

Jupiter will be transiting your 4th house of home and family.

Remember: Jupiter expands. Leo brings visibility, confidence, creativity, leadership, performance and being seen.

Potential themes:

• Moving/renovating

• Family healing

• Property

• Roots

• Ancestral work/healing

• The mother

Possible manifestations of this transit:

• Moving into a new home or bigger home

• Home renovations

• Buying or selling property

• Healing family relationships

• Healing with your mother

• Growing your family in some way

• Working from home

• Hosting gatherings and holidays

• Uncovering things about your ancestry/lineage

• Expanded “responsibility” for your parents

Overall vibe: your roots expand

Real example: When I had this transit, I purchased a home, renovated it and moved!

Gemini 𓀤𓀥

Jupiter will be transiting your 3rd of communication, writing, speaking, communicating, short distance travel.

Remember: Jupiter expands. Leo brings visibility, confidence, creativity, leadership, performance and being seen.

Potential themes:

• Writing

• Teaching

• Speaking

• Learning

Possible manifestations of this transit:

• Starting a podcast, newsletter, or YouTube channel

• Writing a book

• Taking up a journaling practice

• Public speaking opportunities

• Learning a new skill

• Taking courses/getting certifications

• Buying a new car (3rd house rules vehicles)

• More local travel (hello staycations!)

• Becoming known for your voice/ideas/thoughts

What message are you here to share? What needs to be expanded from your voice?

Cancer ♋︎

Jupiter will be transiting your 2nd of money, resources and your self-worth!

Remember: Jupiter expands. Leo brings visibility, confidence, creativity, leadership, performance and being seen.

Potential themes:

• Money

• Income

• Business growth

• Self-worth

• Root chakra themes

Possible manifestations of this transit:

• Getting a raise, promotion, or better-paying role

• Growing + scaling a business

• New income streams

• Raising your prices

• Investing in yourself

• Luxury purchases

• Evaluating the things that dysregulate your nervous system (this house has a lot to do with root chakra themes like survival, safety, etc.)

Overall theme: Your prosperity follows your self-worth

What do you value? Expansion of your resources.

Leo 𓃬

Jupiter will be transiting your 1st house of the self, your identity, your ego.

Remember: Jupiter expands. Leo brings visibility, confidence, creativity, leadership, performance and being seen.

Potential Themes:

• Reinvention

• Confidence

• Visibility

• Personal growth

Possible manifestations of this transit:

• Major glow-up

• Weight gain or physical expansion (Jupiter does this sometimes! in a literal “expansion of the self” way)

  • Also can be a pregnancy transit! Expansion of the self

• Increased/boosted confidence (you already have this as a leo rising hehe)

• Rebranding yourself

• Finding a new personal style

• New chapter or identity

• More attention from others

• Becoming more visible

• Leadership opportunities

Overall theme: The world sees a bigger version of you!

What are you becoming?

Real example: When I had this transit, I became pregnant with my first son <3

Virgo ♍︎

Jupiter will be transiting your 12th of the unseen, subconscious mind and the invisible realms.

Remember: Jupiter expands. Leo brings visibility, confidence, creativity, leadership, performance and being seen.

Potential themes:

• Spirituality

• Healing

• Dream work

• Solitude

• Surrender to life

Possible manifestations of this transit:

• Powerful dreams & intuition

• Phsycic or spiritual awakening

• Starting therapy or other healing modalities

• Releasing and processing grief

• Unexpected “divine timing” moments

• Becoming interested in meditation or mysticism

Overall theme: growth happens in the invisible

What is ending in your life so a new chapter can begin?

Real example: I can’t recall this transit, but I have Jupiter in my 12th Nataly, and this is sometimes called “the guardian angel placement” because I feel I also am blessed with “lucky breaks” “divine intervention” and a sense of blessings in the subtle realms!

Libra 𓍝

Jupiter will be transiting your 11th of community, relationships, your peers.

Remember: Jupiter expands. Leo brings visibility, confidence, creativity, leadership, performance and being seen.

Potential themes:

• Community

• Networking

• Friendships

• Peers

Possible manifestations of this transit:

• New friendships

• Meeting influential people

• Joining communities or groups

• Networking opportunities

• Increased support from others in your community

• Collaborative opportunities

Overall theme: Your future self-arrives through the support of other people.

Scorpio ♏︎

Jupiter will be transiting your 10th of career, public image and reputation.

Remember: Jupiter expands. Leo brings visibility, confidence, creativity, leadership, performance and being seen.

Potential themes:

• Career

• Business

• Leadership

• Reputation

Possible manifestations of this transit:

• Promotion at work

• Career breakthrough

• Public recognition

• Launching a business

• Becoming a notable person/authority in your field of work

• Media opportunities

• Receiving awards or accolades

• Expanded visibility and reputation

• More leadership opportunities and responsibilities.

Overall theme: Success and recognition are yours!

What does your ideal “success” require you to become?

Sagittarius ➶

Jupiter will be transiting your 9th house of foreign travel, teaching.

Remember: Jupiter expands. Leo brings visibility, confidence, creativity, leadership, performance and being seen.

Potential themes:

• Travel

• Publishing

• Spiritual studies

• Teaching

Possible manifestations of this transit:

• International travel

• Moving or studying abroad

• Publishing a book

• Returning to school/higher education (getting a master’s degree etc.)

• Teaching or coaching

• Spiritual study (learning a spiritual modality like astrology, reiki, yoga training, etc.)

• Religious exploration

• Expanding your worldview

Overall theme: Your world gets bigger

What truth are you ready to embody? How is your worldview ready to expand?

Capricorn ♑︎

Jupiter will be transiting your 8th house of other people’s money, the occult, inheritance.

Remember: Jupiter expands. Leo brings visibility, confidence, creativity, leadership, performance and being seen.

Potential themes:

• Shared resources (spouses’ money, business partners money, etc.)

• Investments

• Shadow work

• Inheritance

• Taxes/debts

Possible manifestations of this transit:

• Receiving an inheritance

• Partner earns more money which benefits you

• Receiving grants, loans, investments, funding

• Deb relief + forgiveness

• Deep healing work

• Powerful therapy breakthroughs

• Transformation life events and experiences

Overall theme: shared resources become a blessing

What are you ready to release?

Real example: When my husband had this transit his dad randomly paid off our car for us and my dad (his FIL) helped renovate our new home (saving us hundreds of thousands of dollars!)

Aquarius 𓀆𓎹

Jupiter will be transiting your 7th house of relationships, business partners, clients.

Remember: Jupiter expands. Leo brings visibility, confidence, creativity, leadership, performance and being seen.

Potential themes:

• Marriage

• Partnerships

• Clients

• Collaboration’s

Possible manifestations of this transit:

• Meeting a partner/a lover/ a soulmate

• Engagement or marriage!

• Attracting higher quality relationships

• Business partnerships

• Signing important contracts

• An abundance of clients if self-employed

• Collaboration opportunities

• Relationship healing and growth (improving a marriage or partnership)

Overall theme: expansion happens through partnership

Pisces ♓︎

Jupiter will be transiting your 6th house of health, work, and daily routines.

Hello fellow Pisces rising (I’m a Pisces rising hehe 𖹭)

Remember: Jupiter expands. Leo brings visibility, confidence, creativity, leadership, performance and being seen.

Potential themes:

• Health

• Habits

• Systems

• Daily work + routines

• Service

Possible manifestations of this transit:

• Finding a job you enjoy

• Expanding and scaling businesses through systems and structure

• Hiring help or building a team/ outsourcing what you can

• Improving your health

• Getting serious about health + wellness + exercise

• Better work-life balance (potentially) or over-working yourself (Jupiter expands whatever it touches)

• Creating routines that support your long term success

• More daily responsibilities

Overall theme: your daily routine becomes the foundation of your growth

What systems, routines, and structure support the life you’re trying to build?

Jupiter doesn’t always deliver blessings and gifts (although it can!!!)

Sometimes it delivers them as opportunities.

Usually your growth & expansion require you to become bigger first.

Wherever Leo falls in your chart, expect life to ask for more courage, more authenticity, and more willingness to be seen. THATS how Jupiter’s abundance codes will enter your life✨

Comment what house LEO is in, in your chart down below and keep the conversation going <3

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Thanks for reading- let me know what else you guys want to hear from me!

From my heart to yours💌

Shayna

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Others enter carrying old wounds that have yet to be brought to light.

Some women inherit softness, tenderness, and nurturing from their mothers.
Others inherit survival, independence, and hypervigilance.

Some are taught how to mother by watching love move gently through a home… while others become mothers while still trying to understand what a mother’s love was supposed to feel like in the first place.

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Trauma as a role model

For those of us mothering without a mother, we don’t learn how to parent through fond memories from our own childhood, but rather by knowing exactly what not to do.

By remembering what hurt.
What made us feel unsafe.
And using THAT as our blueprint on what not to do.

How hard it is to mother when fear and pain were your first teachers.

When silence, unpredictability, criticism, or emotional absence shaped your understanding of care.

How utterly confusing it can feel to raise children while untangling the very things that raised you…

The ache of doing it differently

There is a grief that comes with choosing a different path.
With being a cycle breaker.

There is no one telling you how your hard work will pay off, how you are healing the little girl in you too, how you came here to heal an entire lineage.

Going against the grain isn’t easy… and that’s why you’re the first one to do it.

Alongside mothering your children comes a deep-rooted sadness and ache for realizing just how much you deserved too.

Because every gentle response you give your child becomes evidence of what you once needed yourself.

The invisible labor of cycle breaking

This Mother’s Day, people may acknowledge all of the hats you wear as a mother — chef, tutor, nurse, therapist, house cleaner — but what is not often noticed is the inner labor.

The constant conscious effort to not pass pain forward.

To do things differently.

To be a cycle breaker.

Your children may never know the depth of what you have healed, but I see you mama.

I see you loving your children in a language you never received.

I see you becoming a safe space not only for your children, but also for the little girl in you.

I see you ending the patterns that don’t need to be repeated.

I see the love you created from SCRATCH.

This Mother’s Day, may you receive what you so freely give.

Remember: your love and your strength healed your lineage

Thank you so much for reading <3

If you enjoy my articles about the Mother Wound I am planning to launch an 8 week group journey called The Mother Within for women who feel called to end cycles, reconnect with their feminine wisdom, and become the women their lineage needed.

If this is something you would be interested in please comment below or send me a message on Substack or socials! Would love to hear your thoughts & interest.

My Current Offerings:

Book a 3-session womb healing container with me HERE

Book a single 1:1 womb healing session with me HERE

Access COMING HOME TO YOUR WOMB self-guided course HERE

Womb healing guided meditation gallery HERE

From my heart to yours,

Shayna💌

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Wednesday morning, I received the news that my mother’s husband (my stepfather) passed away.

He had been battling cancer for years, so I had anticipated this news. I had even talked in therapy several times about what might come up for me when this eventually happened.

And yet something really surprising happened…

I was overcome with grief.

Not my own grief, as I haven’t spoken to my stepfather or had a relationship with him in over a decade, but a different kind of grief…

A grief that wasn’t necessarily mine, but was living in my heart, my belly, my womb.

The grief my mother was feeling was rising within me.

The Complicated Grief of Estranged Daughters

The grief my mother was experiencing for the loss of her husband was creating swells of deep emotion within me.

I could literally feel her grief somatically, energetically, physically—even psychically.

And weirdly enough, the day of his passing I was praying for her during a meditation. Meditating on his sickness. Something within me felt the pain she was in.

Almost like our hearts were speaking to each other telepathically.

You Can Run But You’re Still Her Daughter

This experience has shed light on something I have been grappling with for months in therapy.

Try as I might to distance myself, create space, force boundaries, protect myself—the truth is glaringly obvious: she is still my mother, and I am still her daughter.

Those of us with a mother wound feel so hurt and abandoned by our mothers that often we do everything in our power to be different than our mothers—even at the expense of closing off parts of ourselves that are like our mothers.

Parts of ourselves that make us… us.

We share blood, DNA, ancestral memory, epigenetic traits with her.

If you choose to close off those parts of you out of spite or hatred for your mother, you are spiting and hating yourself.

In truth, two things can exist at the same time: there can be parts of your mother that you dislike and want to be nothing like, and there can be parts of you—beautiful, amazing, special, unique parts of you—that you inherited from her.

The sooner we can see the good in her, the sooner we can learn to love all of ourselves.

The Invisible Thread Between Us

For nine months, my body was literally built inside my mother’s womb. My mom was my first home. I was born from her blood.

We are ancestrally connected. When my grandmother carried my mom, she was also carrying me. And when my mother carried me, she was also carrying the earliest seeds of my children.

Fetal Microchimerism tells us that a mother carries cells from her children long after birth, and a child can carry cells from her mother for life.

So, when I say there is a thread between us, I don’t just mean emotionally or spiritually.

I mean biologically.

Cellularly.

A connection written into blood and bone longgg before either of us had words for it.

Estrangement can create distance, but it cannot undo origin.

The origin of you.

Making Peace With What Lives In My Body

You can leave your mother’s life, but you cannot leave the body that was built inside hers.

Growing up, so many people would tell me:

“Wow! You look just like your mom when you pose like that!”

“Ha… your mom is so strong-willed—you definitely got that from her!”

“Oh yeah, your mom experienced that in her pregnancies too.”

These comments would trigger the sh*t out of me! Honestly, they still do sometimes.

How dare anyone suggest that I am like her!? How dare anyone point out the parallels between me and my mother—the person who literally created me. The person who I literally share 50% of my DNA with… ha.

Instead of running from the fact that my mom is my mom, I am trying to make peace with it. Appreciate her for the things she gave me. Feel immense gratitude for the fact that she gave me life, birthing me into this world!!

My long legs? Yes, I got them from my mom, and I love them.

My strong-willed, stubborn personality that gets me places in life? Thank goodness for that.

My literal life is from her, and for that I am so grateful.

Perhaps the work isn’t to erase her from me, but to meet the parts of myself that were shaped by her with love.

Thank you so much for reading <3 If this resonated with you, please leave a comment below to help start a conversation for those of us going through this same experience. The mother wound is not as rare as we might think, and I personally find healing in community.

Friendly reminder that in honor of Friday the 13th my course & 1:1 are both 13% off until Monday!

Learn more about Coming Home to Your Womb Course HERE

Schedule a 1:1 Womb Healing with me HERE

See you on Tuesday!

From My Heart to Yours💌

Shayna

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In a world of do more, be more, consume more, it feels wrong to slow down.

This fast-paced culture has infiltrated every aspect of our lives… from our yoga classes (hello power flow) to Amazon Prime, to social media.

Slowing down in today’s world feels like giving up — surrendering your dreams and calling it quits.

What’s sad, though, is that this way of life is actually only fueling capitalism. And in the long run, it’s making us all (women especially) less productive, more burnt out, and oh so disconnected.

Nature Never Rushes

“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” — Lao Tzu

Mother Nature can always be our greatest teacher. Her abundance, her boldness, is always achieved — yet she does so with grace, with ease.

She moves in rhythms and cycles, yet her timing is always prompt.

Nature never rushes because she understands polarity.

Winter does not try to be summer.
Low tide softens so high tide can roar.
A caterpillar remains in the cocoon until it is time to emerge.
A rose bud blooms only when it is ready.
The moon honors both her darkness and her light.

We are all a part of Mother Nature, so why have we learned to live so differently?

The Masculine Pace vs The Feminine Rythm

Living in a modern world fueled by capitalism, we have been conditioned to be productive — made to believe that our output matters more than our input, that our value is directly correlated to how much we produce, consume, own, and possess.

But in truth — just like Mother Nature — there is a season for doing and a season for allowing.

Life is comprised of duality: the yin and the yang, the masculine and the feminine, day and night, creation and destruction.

What if honoring both our slowness and our speed is the secret sauce to doing more, being more, having more?

The Power of Spaciousness

What if instead of filling the void — filling the liminal space between what was and what will be — you simply be in the spaciousness?

Just like before spring, there is a subtle pause where the snow has melted but the buds haven’t yet bloomed.

When the tide pulls out to sea, there is a moment of silence before the wave comes crashing forward.

The moment we allow for space, for stillness, for these sacred pauses, is the moment we make room for the yang — the summer of life.

When we begin to feel into the power of slowness… life starts unfolding.

The Feminine Way

Just like Mother Nature moves with divine rhythms — seasons, cycles, timing, intuition — so do we. We have just forgotten.

How can we begin to honor our hearts, honor our bodies, honor our hormones… and allow instead of always doing?

To contract so we can rest.

To pause so something new can emerge.

Life Moves Faster When You Stop Forcing It

Slow is not lazy.

When we allow ourselves to be in the season of life we are actually in — the luteal phase, the winter of life — we are quietly building energy and vitality so we can be more productive when spring and summer arrive (literally and figuratively).

What if slowing down is actually what allows you to speed up?

Thank you so much for reading <3 Keep a comment down below & let me know what you think! Can’t wait to connect :)

If this resonated, please consider sharing it with a friend (this really helps support my work!)

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Shayna

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In the age of AI, social media, Uber Eats, dating apps, Kindle instant downloads, podcasts, online shopping, etc., it is way too easy to mindlessly consume. It’s way too easy to obtain instant gratification from external sources.

Feeling insecure? Let’s go on Tinder just to see who wants me.

Feeling stressed? Let’s eat some sugar to cope.

Feeling empty? A new fast fashion outfit from Amazon will fix me.

Thoughts overwhelming you? Let’s numb out in the abyss of my FYP.

How can we not be addicted to distraction when the options are plentiful and slowly invading every area of our lives…?

The Urge to Consume

I hate to break it to you, but what you’re craving isn’t actually outside of you.

It lives inside of you.

When we have this insatiable appetite for distraction, the reason is far deeper than boredom or procrastination. I started to notice this trend inside of myself — the more I consume, the more I want to consume. It’s like a vicious cycle of never-enough-ness.

It’s only when I began to notice what lies beneath the urge to consume that I started to receive some clarity…

Why is it that I can spend months not making a single purchase online, but then one fast fashion haul sends me down a spiral of doom scrolling, sugar binging, and hundreds of compulsive Amazon Prime purchases?

When I pause to ask myself why I am running to the pantry to devour half a chocolate bar… I can notice that there is something within me that is dysregulated. Something within me that wants to be felt. Moved. Seen.

Distraction Is a Regulating Tool

Maybe — just maybe — this incessant desire to consume, buy, crave, need, want… really is just an attempt at regulating our emotions?

When something inside feels empty, uncomfortable, or unsafe, we automatically reach for something external to modulate that feeling.

The dopamine spike we get, the sensory input, the “busyness” temporarily drown out uncomfortable inner signals.

But:

What we resist… persists.

Distraction might be a short-term band-aid solution, but once that fades, the feeling you were avoiding will come back… which perpetuates the cycle of:

Consumption → Temporary Relief → Renewed Discomfort → Consumption Again

If we want to break the cycle, we have to be with our discomfort.

Creation > Consumption

This idea has been circling around the internet (which I love!) and it’s creation > consumption.

What if instead of turning on that podcast while you cook dinner… you just cook? You just create a delicious meal for yourself or your family.

What if instead of making that purchase on Revolve, you get creative in your closet and put together new outfits?

What if instead of asking ChatGPT what to feel, say, or think… you just sit with your own thoughts and emotions and make a decision for yourself?

What if every time you feel a compulsive pull to buy something, you redirect that energy toward creating something, sharing something, making something?

Or…

Here’s an even more radical idea…

Just be.

Be with the discomfort.

From Doing to Being

I invite you to step out of this vicious loop and instead step into yourself.

Next time you notice yourself falling back into the same old cycle… I invite you to take a sacred pause.

The urge, the distraction, the appetite for more — all point back to the same truth:

You are not seeing your wholeness, your enoughness.

Even when you stop chasing, scrolling, eating, consuming… enough is already inside of you.

Your real power will come when you learn how to sit with yourself and know:

I am enough.
I am whole.
I am here.

If you enjoyed this post please share it with a friend, this really helps my publication grow <3

Let’s keep the conversation going in the comments- I cannot wait to hear from you!

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From My Heart to Yours💌

Shayna

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Manifestation is consumerism disguised as spirituality… there, I said it.

That’s why it’s often the ultimate gateway drug into a spiritual awakening. The conundrum of being a human is that we face inevitable suffering, and manifestation is painted as a way to escape the suffering and struggles of being human.

Although I agree we are co-creators with the universe, I think when we focus solely on what we can achieve and when it will happen, we are missing the plot.

The Arrival Fallacy

The funny thing about manifesting is that there will always be something else you want.

When we focus on things outside of us, we will never be satisfied. Ever.

Sometimes the idea of achieving what it is you want is better than the end result.

The sad truth is that when you finally “get” what it is you want… there isn’t some ticker-tape parade waiting for you on the other side.

Life will keep on life-ing. The ego will rapidly move on to the next thing. And in reality, the same wounds, scars, traumas, the same lack within yourself will continue to show up for you. Yes, even when you have the guy, the house, the kids, the dream career… wherever you go, there you are.

Some of the greatest things I have ever manifested have come and gone, and I have still found myself craving something else.

A more recent example: I have worked hard over the last year to build my digital platform. Consistent posting. A vision board I would stare at to manifest a certain number of followers, a certain amount of money I wanted to make per month.

Rapidly in the fall, my account grew from 10,000 followers to 100,000. Just like that, my dreams materialized.

But you know what my silly ego did…? She already had her eyes on the next “prize.” The next “milestone.” The next “goal.”

I didn’t even take a moment to appreciate the thing my past self would have cried for.

The truth is, the joy is in the journey.

The Illusion of Control

I believe the reason manifestation is so mainstream is because it gives us the illusion that we are in control.

Humans so badly want to control our lives. Force an outcome. Grab the steering wheel of life.

In reality, what is meant for you will never pass you by.

Try as you might… you can “manifest” or “be the frequency” of what it is you desire, but if it is not meant for you, it will not happen.

Relaxing and surrendering will not make your dreams disappear.

Quite the opposite, actually…

The Art of Surrender

How can you receive the abundance of life when your fists are clenched so tight? The tighter you grip, the less you can hold.

Once you learn to ride the waves of life… you begin to realize there is already a destination you are heading toward. You can thrash, resist, and fight the current, but if you simply float and allow the waves of life to move you along, you will find that there is a force much greater than your ego gently guiding you.

What is fated, what is meant for you, cannot miss you. There is already a divine intelligence nudging you toward that path.

The funny thing is, once you truly embody this, you start to realize manifestation is just an illusion. It allows the ego to believe we are in control, when in reality the thing you “tried” so hard for may have been coming all along.

You can choose to flow there… or you can struggle.

The choice is yours.

The Freedom Beyond Manifestation

When you choose the path of surrender, of flow, of trust, you have more room to enjoy life.

More room to pour into the things that truly matter.

More room to pour into your healing.

Ask yourself… if I keep looking toward things outside of myself for fulfillment, is there actually something within me that feels lacking?

In a world full of consumption and comparison, we should be trying to be content exactly as we are. The moment you fully accept yourself, trust in the divine intelligence guiding you on your journey and appreciate all that you have right now… is the moment you can truly enjoy what is coming for you in the next iteration.

If this resonated with you, please share it with a friend 🤍 This helps this publication grow!

Let’s talk about it. Drop a comment below to start a conversation on manifestation vs. divine surrender <3

My current offerings:

Booking a 1:1 Healing Session: book here

Guided Meditations: linked here

Join this month’s Full Moon Circle: join here

Coming Home to Your Womb: linked here

From My Heart To Yours 💌
Shayna

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The moment I started charging for my healing is the moment the hate comments, DMs, and messages began flooding in.

There I was sharing hundreds (thousands?) of hours of totally free content. I didn’t make a single penny from content creation for at least 9 months. Yet the moment I started to charge fair and reasonable prices in exchange for much deeper containers, some of my audience started to get triggered…

Why Do We Value Everything Except Wisdom?

It’s so interesting to me how people will pay for things like medication, fast food, tour guides, books, etc. But when it comes to paying someone for their lived wisdom, embodiment, years of self-study, their own continuing education, the energetic prep, etc., it’s suddenly labeled as “not spiritual” or “exploitative.”

People will literally pay for things that cause harm (i.e., alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, gambling, fast food). But the moment a healer charges for something that could leave a lasting positive effect on your life for years to come… suddenly it’s a crime.

The part people are missing is that money is nothing more than an energetic agreement. A contract. A commitment.

And that’s why it’s a tool, not a crime!!!

Money Is Energy

Money is an energetic exchange. Nothing more, nothing less.

Something I have noticed (and I know other coaches, healers, and creators can attest to this) is that when I make something free or underpriced… the impact and healing I’m able to give to a client is so. much. less.

I can give you a real-life example.

I used to charge $100 for a 60-minute 1:1 healing session. In my mind at the time (albeit I think I was undervaluing myself), I thought this was a super accessible price. Therefore, I’ll be able to help more people! Yay! Look at me being so altruistic!

But… what I noticed really quickly was that I was getting a ton of people rescheduling last minute. I’m talking 5–10 minutes before our session, after I’ve prepped, gotten my kids down for a nap, prepared an entire meditation for the client… and just like that, they decided they needed to reschedule.

Or… I would have no-shows. Lots of them.

And do you know why that is?

Because $100 was too low of a price. Low enough that clients booking at that price didn’t mind wasting it. They didn’t have much skin in the game—energetic skin—to actually show up. Prepare. Take accountability for their healing.

So, I decided to raise my prices, and guess what?

Now all of my clients take our sessions seriously. They show up prepared. They come with intention for their healing.

And guess what… that actually makes the healing more impactful!!

So yes… when we undercharge for something—or worse, make something free—it can have the opposite effect.

Money is just energy.

It’s a commitment.

Reclaiming the Value of Soul Work

We as healers, coaches, guides, and intuitives need to reclaim the value of our soul’s work. Our purpose and mission have value, and we deserve to be compensated for it.

One thing I have noticed as well is that aligned clients—soulmate-level clients—never bat an eye at the exchange.

Actually, I’ve had many tell me they are shocked I am charging such a reasonable amount for what I offer.

That’s because the people who are meant for your work will understand. The people who are meant for your work want to support your mission.

The more comfortable you become seeing money as merely an unlimited well of energy, the easier it becomes to receive it. And by accepting money for your soul work, you’re able to contribute more and more of yourself—leave your 9–5, devote your time to this purpose, and ultimately help more people.

Thank you for reading. I hope this resonated with you 🤍

If you’d like more from me, subscribe so we can stay connected.

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Current offerings:

✨ Coming Home To Your Womb — a 5-day embodiment journey
Available here

🧘‍♀️ My guided meditations
Available here

🌿 Work with me 1:1
Book Here

If this spoke to you, share it with a friend. And feel free to keep the conversation going in the comments below.

See you Sunday.

From my heart to yours 💌
Shayna

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Adults Want Their Moms Too….

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but… it’s okay to want your mommy.

It’s okay to be a mommy yourself and still want your mom.

It’s okay to know you cannot have your mom in the way you need—and still want her.

Even if you’re estranged.
Even if she’s an addict.
Emotionally unavailable.
Abusive.
Narcissistic.

It is still okay.
It is still normal to want your mommy.

It’s biological.
It’s ancestral.

Honor that.

The other day I was sick with mastitis… a horrible fever, chills, a migraine — the whole gambit. In the haze of sickness and insomnia, I was suddenly overcome with grief. A strong, surprising (!!) sense of longing.

In that moment, I realized that I have two young boys (3 and 9 months) and between working (TWO jobs), caring for them, being a wife, running a home, caring for pets, and everything else… there is no one there helping me, caring for me, supporting me, mothering me.

And I felt how deeply — desperately, even — I wanted that. Needed that.

Here I am, a wife and a mother of two at 28, and all I wanted was to be mothered. I wanted a nurturing mom to come tuck me in, check my forehead with her hand, help my husband and me manage the house, make me a cup of tea, tell me all the remedies and tricks that worked for her when she had mastitis years ago…

But instead, I was alone in bed. My husband downstairs holding it together with the boys.

And I just wanted to be held. Supported by a village of women. Wrapped up in the unconditionally loving embrace only a mother could provide.

The Mother Wound Is Ancient

As easy as it is to put the blame on our own mothers who hurt us, neglected us, didn’t show up for us… in truth, it didn’t start with her.

The mother wound is ancient. It travels through generations. Through all the women in your lineage who were unheld, unsupported, unseen, unprotected.

Two things can be true at once: you can choose boundaries and separation from your mother and still have compassion for what she inherited. For what she endured. For the love she never received and was therefore incapable of giving.

You can forgive her for it all and still choose no contact.

You can forgive her for it all and still feel grief for the mother you want but will never be able to have…

We can only move forward in healing the mother wound when we begin to see our own moms as imperfect humans (as we all are), doing what they could with what they were given in this life.

And still knowing you deserved more.

You deserve more.

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Grief is Sacred

I used to feel shame in the moments of longing. In the moments when I wanted my mom.

But then I realized something….

It’s not my mother I am grieving.
It’s the love I deserved but never received.

The sooner we allow ourselves to accept the grief… to sit with the feelings instead of running from them, to look that longing directly in the face — the sooner we begin to become the mother we needed.

“The Wound is the place the light enters you”- Rumi

Motherhood As An Initiation

I thought my estranged relationship with my mom was no big deal for most of my life.

I had a wonderful, nurturing, supportive father. An amazing boyfriend. A career. Friends. All the things.

Not having a mom didn’t impact me at all.
(Or so I thought.)

It was no big deal… until I got pregnant.

That’s when everything changed.

The moment those two lines appeared on the pregnancy test, I was flooded with mixed emotions. Gratitude for my own mother for going through all the things I was now experiencing for the first time—morning sickness, pelvic pain, heartburn, childbirth, breastfeeding, the baby blues…

And at the same time, anger that she had allowed our relationship to become what it is.

Then I held my sweet baby.
Watched him grow.

And the emotions only intensified.

This strange mix of:
Damn… motherhood is hard.

And also:
Damn… she did that to me when I was this little?

But somewhere in that realization, something shifted.

I started to see that the pain of having a difficult mother might also be the thing that teaches me exactly what not to do… how not to be… how not to love.

And in raising my boys, I slowly began re-parenting myself too.

Becoming The Mother You Needed

In the depths of early motherhood and weekly therapy, I realized something.

There is a little girl deep inside me… the same age as my sweet boys. So innocent. So afraid. So deserving of unconditional love and nurturing. So deserving of fierce protection.

She deserves that same level of mama-bear love that I give to my boys.

Through parenting my boys, through having strong boundaries for the sake of their protection, through using my voice to keep them safe, through doing everything in my power to give them the best life and love I possibly can…

I am offering that to little Shayna too.

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What Healing Looks Like

Acknowledge the hurt

It wasn’t until I became a mother myself that I began to acknowledge the pain of not having a mom in my life. I can now see how much I was living in denial, avoiding my true feelings, until a life-altering experience like motherhood forced it all to the surface.

True healing only began when I finally looked at the hole that had always been there. I had just spent years avoiding it.

Re-parent your inner child

Begin to develop a fierce, unconditionally loving inner mother.

Become the mother you always needed. The one you always deserved but never received.

Protect the little child inside of you at all costs.

Once that wounded child inside of you begins to feel safe in your own arms… everything starts to change.

Boundaries

Many people with estranged relationships with a parent were never truly protected.

Start creating that safety now — physically, emotionally, and for your nervous system.

Advocate for yourself.
Advocate for your children.

Become the strong, protective motherly force you always needed and deserved.

Radical acceptance

It sucks not having a mom.
It really, truly does.

Raising kids without a mom to guide you? Horrible.
Going through all the “firsts” without her wisdom and support? Painful.

Let that truth be real.
Sit with it.
Look it in the eye.

Grieve

Not having a mom is a huge loss.

You will see other people with loving mothers who watch their kids, cook for them, guide them, support them.

And it will hurt.

It is okay — and necessary — to grieve that.

To feel it.
To want that.

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It Ends With You…

Try as you might, you are a part of your mother… your grandmother… your great-grandmother.

You were born from your mother. You share blood with her. You were given life through her.

If you choose to hate her for what she did… you inadvertently will hate yourself.

Instead, choose to honor the life she gave you. And choose to believe that the history of the mother wound does not have to continue.

The lineage of being unseen, unloved, unsupported… can end with you.

You are the cycle breaker of your family line.

Sometimes daughters don’t come here to be mothered.

Sometimes they come here to become the mother.

If this resonated with you, please share it with a friend <3

If you too are healing the mother wound drop your tips in the comments below, I cannot wait to hear from you!

From My Heart To Yours,

Shayna💌

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Yoni steaming is an ancient practice where a woman sits over a pot of steaming herbal water to promote vaginal and uterine health. The term “Yoni” comes from the Sanskrit word for “sacred space” or “womb.” In addition to the myriads of physical benefits there are also energetic and spiritual benefits for your womb space (don’t worry… I’ll be diving into allllllll the benefits later in this post).

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Are There Actual Benefits of Yoni Steaming!?

Let’s talk about the benefits… and yes there are so many benefits. This is an ancient practice that has been used all around the world (Korea, Central & South America, Africa, Southeast Asia etc.) and is not some new age woo woo thing.

Physical Benefits:

• Improves circulation to the Pelvic Area

• Supports Menstrual Health

• Aids Postpartum Recovery

• Reduces Vaginal Infections

• Detox & Cleansing

• Supports Hormonal Balance

• Boosts Relaxation & Stress Relief

Spiritual & Energetic Benefits:

• Reconnects you to Your Sacred Feminine

• Releases Emotional Stagnation

• Enhances Intuition & Psychic Awareness

• Supports Manifestation & Intention Setting

• Deepens Mind-Body Connection

• Empowers Ancestral Healing

• Creates a Ritual of Self-Love & Devotion

Womb Benefits:

• Releases Past Trauma

• Restores Sexual Confidence & Pleasure

• Enhances Creativity & Feminine

• Encourages Cyclical Living

• Strengthens Mothering Energy

• Supports Emotional Clarity & Decision

• Invites Presence & Mindfulness

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Alright I’m Sold… But How Do I Start?

I get it… if you’ve never done a Yoni Steam or maybe you’ve never even heard of it you probably don’t even know where to begin. That’s why I have curated the perfect list for you so you can have everything you need for the perfect steam experience.

Here is my curated list of everything you need to get started:

• Yoni Steaming Stool (I shared three options at different price points <3)

• Yoni Steaming Herbs

• Optional but nice to have for the ultimate experience:

  • Auto V Steamer - you can totally just bring a pot of water to a boil or use a crock pot (like what I did here) but a V steamer is a nice to have option for ease!

  • 100% Cotton Wrap - there are lots of “yoni steam gowns” which are lovely BUT they are made of synthetic fibers!! Personally, I don’t want microplastics being heated and going into my Yoni so I would suggest a 100% cotton wrap, dress, blanket, towel! You can definitely use whatever you have on hand but this wrap is a great option!

  • A guided Womb Meditation from my gallery to help you connect to your yoni <3

If you do decide to buy any of these linked products from my list pretty please use my links! This is a great way to support me and my work so I can continue providing you with free content<3

Yoni Steaming Herbs 101

Below are several commonly used yoni steaming herbs (all of these are included in this blend that I love) along with their traditional womb-healing energetics and their commonly recognized physical benefits!!

Motherwort

• Traditionally used for emotional womb support, grounding, and easing tension held in the pelvic area

• May support menstrual regulation and help reduce cramping

• Known for calming the nervous system and supporting circulation to the reproductive organs

Plantain Leaf

• Traditionally associated with soothing and protective womb care

• Known for skin-soothing, anti-inflammatory, and tissue-supportive properties

• Often used to support minor irritation, dryness, or sensitivity

Calendula Blossom

• Considered a gentle womb-nourishing herb associated with renewal and healing

• Known for antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties

• May support tissue repair, soothing irritation, and maintaining healthy skin integrity

Red Raspberry Leaf

• Traditionally viewed as a classic uterine-toning herb

• May support healthy menstrual cycles and uterine strength

• Rich in minerals that support reproductive tissue health

Red Rose Petals

• Associated with emotional heart-womb connection, softness, and self-love practices

• Gently astringent and soothing to tissues

• Traditionally used to support balance, cooling, and mild toning

Yarrow

• Traditionally used for womb protection and energetic boundary support

• Known for astringent properties that may support tissue toning

• Often used to support menstrual balance and minor discomfort

Mugwort

• Traditionally connected with womb awakening, cycle awareness, and intuitive connection

• May support menstrual flow regulation and pelvic circulation

• Known for warming energetic qualities

Rosemary

• Associated with cleansing, clarity, and energetic purification

• Stimulating herb that supports circulation

• Traditionally used to help refresh and revitalize reproductive tissues

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Ok… But How Does This Actually Work?

Let’s talk step by step!! And if you are a visual person, you can head over to this video on IG where I do it step by step for ya :)

STEP 1) SET UP YOUR SPACE.

Set the vibe. The more you romanticize the experience the better and more profound it will be!! Make it a ritual. I typically do this in my spiritual room, so the vibes are already there but light a candle, burn some incense, play some mantras or affirmations, set up your journal, make a nice cup of tea, you get the jist!

STEP 2) PREPARE THE WATER.

Either use a steamer like this one (same one I linked above) or bring a pot of water to a boil! You can also use a crock pot to help keep the temperature, but a regular old pot works perfectly well! Also- please use filtered water. Ideally distilled or reverse osmosis… anything but tap water :)

STEP 3) ADD YOUR HERBS.

Add the herbs to the water just how you would with a loose-leaf tea and let it seep for 10 minutes (or per the instructions on the package).

STEP 4) ALLOW IT TO COOL.

Please be super cautious of the steam… STEAM CAN BURN YOU!! And as you know the skin on our Yoni is super delicate so be cautious. This is where an auto steamer really comes in handy as you can control the temperature but again a regular pot with caution works too!

STEP 5) SIT & STEAM.

Now… you sit. Let the steam do it’s thingggg. Prepare to be amazed at how soothing it is! This is the time you would cover yourself with a towel, blanket, or wrap to allow the steam to stay trapped! If you don’t do this, it’s much less impactful as the steam tends to escape from under the stool. Stay out for 20 minutes or as long as it stays warm!

STEP 6) JOURNAL, MEDITATE, LISTEN TO YOUR WOMB.

Take this time to journal. See some of my favorite womb journal prompts for you to use an inspiration below! You can also access my entire gallery of womb meditations here which would be the perfect too; especially this womb-heart meditation! AND most importantly… LISTEN to your womb. What comes up for you? Any emotions? Sensations? Thoughts? Traumas?

Remember: your womb doesn’t always speak in words but through subtle sensations!

BONUS: Sample Journal Prompts:

What emotions feel stored in my lower belly?

Where have I silenced my desires to be chosen, loved, or accepted?

What did I witness in womanhood growing up- how has that shaped me?

What does pleasure mean to me beyond sexuality?

What is trying to be birthed through me right now (idea, identity, voice, etc.)?

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Closing

Yoni steaming is ultimately an invitation to slow down, listen, and reconnect with the wisdom of the womb! Whether you approach this practice for physical support, emotional release, cycle awareness, or sacred self-care, consistency and intention matter more than perfection. Start gently, learn how your body responds, and allow the practice to evolve with you over time :)

If this guide supported you, I’d love to hear from you! Share your experience, questions, or favorite herbs in the comments so we can continue learning together as a community <3

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Disclaimer: This content is for educational and wellness purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical condition. I am not a medical doctor. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before beginning any new wellness practice, especially if you are pregnant, trying to conceive, postpartum, have an IUD, or have any medical concerns!!

From My Heart to Yours💌

Shayna

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Hello Goddesses! 🤍

It’s officially DECEMBER🤯 and Christmas is literally right around the corner (2025 where did you go!?). One thing about me is that gift giving is my LOVE LANGUAGE! Nothing makes me happier than to gift a loved one or bestie something that is thoughtful, intentional and I know they will love. And I do think I am pretty darn good at it if I do say so myself!!

This holiday season I have been super mindful about trying to SHOP SMALL instead of giving all of my money to billionaire’s by supporting the Amazon, Walmart and Targets of the world! I know convenience is tempting but there are so many conscious, ethical, spirit-led businesses that deserve our dollar so much more.

That’s why I have curated the perfect list of my favorite brands and products that I know any wellness centered, spiritual, conscious women in your life would LOVE to be gifted. Or… maybe you’re in search of something for YOURSELF (because can we normalize gifting ourselves something for Christmas!?) You deserve it.

LETS GET INTO IT….

1. Wana Hey Ceremonial Cacao

Wana Hey is a BRAND-NEW small women owned business offering ceremonial cacao. And let me tell you… it is equally DECLIOUS as it is sacred. Truly, I could taste the love, prayer and intention in every cup.

If you know a chocolate lover, plant medicine lover, or someone who loves ceremony this is truly the best heart opening gift you could give. It’s delicious as a cup of cacao (just add hot water) but also divine when eaten as is. Silky, smooth, heart opening. What more could you ask for!?

SHOP WANA HEY HERE!

2. Ayni Ayurveda Saffron Glow Elixir

If you don’t know what Ayurvedic skincare is let me give you a TLDR:

Ayurvedic skincare is skincare based on ancient Indian medicine (Ayurveda) that uses natural, plant-based ingredients to balance your skin according to your dosha (Vata, Pitta, Kapha).

It focuses on:

• Nourishing the skin with oils, herbs, and botanicals

• Aligning your skincare with your body type + seasons

Ayni Ayurveda Saffron Glow Elixir is exactly that! Nourishing, natural, gentle. Also, it smells AMAZING! Exactly how I imagine ancient goddesses would smell (in the BEST way). And the GLOWWWWW it gives is *chefs kiss*

SHOP AYNI AYURVEDA: USE CODE SHAYNA20

3. Sync Botanicals

Where are my cycle syncing, FAM girlies at!? This tea box is for YOU! Sync Botanicals is “a daily ritual with six organic tea blends for every phase of your cycle. Each cup helps ease PMS and cramps so you can feel balanced, grounded, and in rhythm with your body again.” This would be the gift that keeps on GIVING for sure. Any women can not only benefit from the awareness of knowing where they are in their cycle but also from drinking hormone balancing herbs every day. It’s like a ritual that connects you deeper to your feminine energy and we all know I LOVE that.

Also… the founder, Amy Joy, is such a LIGHT. She is SO kind and SO hard working. Every sale will directly help make her dream come true <3

SHOP SYNC: USE CODE SHAYNA FOR $15 OFF

4. Satya Jewelry

I am not lying when I tell you I have been utterly OBSESSED with this brand for years. Their jewelry is so intentional, and they really have a piece that could resonate with ANYONE. Bonus: for every order $1 is donated to the Satya Foundation which provides assistance and opportunities for children all over the world!! Give a gift you can feel good about!

SHOP SATYA: USE CODE SHAYNA15

5. Surya Rose Petal Body Oil

Guys… not to be dramatic but the SMELL of this is insane. I love roses (very on brand for me lol) but sometimes roses can be overpowering and a bit powdery. THIS OIL SMELLS DIVINE. It’s also so light but extremely moisturizing at the same time.

SHOP SURYA ROSE BODY OIL

6. Daya Jewelry

Another beautiful intentional jewelry brand… this time for the yogis in your life! Their chakra necklace is absolutely gorgeous it drapes all the way down your chest. It’s truly a statement piece and one of my favorite pieces of jewelry I own <3

LINK TO DAYA: USE CODE SHAYNA15

7. Surya Yoni Steam

Soo I made a yoni steaming video and it sort of broke the internet (lol). I received sooo many questions from you guys asking what herbs I use, where to buy a stool, what the benefits are and so much more (a full post on this coming soon) but if you’re looking for high quality herbs Surya is the place to go! They have three different varieties of steam kits all of them are high quality and effective. My personal fave is the fertility steam.

SHOP SURYAS YONI STEAM

8. Royal Codes Goddess Clothing

Now… just because this is number 8 on the list does NOT mean it is my least favorite. I talk a lot about how important it is to adorn yourself and Royal Codes clothing is EXACTLTY that- ADORMENT. All of their clothes are not only gorgeous and make you look like a real-life GODDESS, but they are also a small women owned business and 100% of their materials are sustainable. And if you live somewhere warm (cries in NJ) this red is so fun for a Christmas party!?

GET 15% OFF ROYAL CODES WITH THIS LINK!

I hope this gift guide is useful for you & I truly hope I have inspired you to shop small and ditch the Amazons of the world this holiday season!

If you enjoyed this, please subscribe (totally free) to stay up to date and receive more content like this. Thank you for being here & be sure to comment down below with your favorite item on this guide!?

From my heart to yours,

💌Shayna

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Only recently has modern medicine begun to acknowledge that our menstrual cycle is a crucial marker of health. But what if it is far more than that?
What if our cycle is not only biological, but spiritual?

Ancient priestesses understood this. Across Egypt, Greece, India, and temple mystery traditions throughout the world, women recognized that the menstrual cycle was not merely a sign of hormonal balance and fertility—it was a living expression of our connection to intuition and the divine. When a woman is on her moon, she is more sensitive, more intuitive, and more attuned to her psychic abilities and to Source itself. Her body becomes an open channel, a lunar gateway.

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🌕The Moons Phases & The Feminine Body

Just as the moon moves through four primary phases every ~29.5 days, a woman’s body cycles through four distinct energetic and hormonal phases. These rhythms are not coincidental—they are reflections of the same ancient lunar template. Women are lunar beings, and our bodies naturally mirror the moon’s movement through dark, waxing, full, and waning stages.

Below are the moon’s phases and how each corresponds directly to the inner phases of a woman’s cycle:

🌹How Temple Women Bled Together Under the Moon

In the ancient mystery temples—Egypt, Greece, India, Mesopotamia, Avalon—women did not simply “have periods.” They bled in devotion, in rhythm, and in communion with the Moon. Priestess lineages understood something we are only beginning to remember:

In these priestess traditions, menstrual alignment signified:

• A unified field of feminine consciousness

• Shared intuition and psychic amplification

• Collective emotional coherence

• A deeper attunement to lunar rhythms

• Heightened receptivity to spiritual downloads and visions

Women were seen as living moons, each carrying the phases within their womb. When many moons beat as one, the temple became a radiant, coherent force of divine feminine energy.

This is why priestess communities intentionally lived close to nature and in darkness at night—no artificial light, no fractured circadian rhythms. Their bodies responded directly to the rising and falling light of the moon.
The synchrony was the proof.

A group of women whose cycles aligned was considered a circle of power—a collective oracle capable of healing, visioning, and ritual work far beyond what any single woman could channel alone.

Sacred Menstrual Meditation🩸✨

White Moon Cycle — Bleeding on the New Moon

Women whose cycles align with the new moon for menstruation and the full moon for ovulation are traditionally described as being in the White Moon Cycle. This rhythm reflects the body’s innate fertility pattern: releasing in the darkness, blooming in the light.

Women in this cycle are often associated with:

• Mothering energy

• Nurturance and caretaking

• Creation — physical or creative

• A natural pull toward family, community, and growth

The symbolism comes from something very real:
before artificial light, full moon nights were the brightest nights for gathering, intimacy, and lovemaking.
Because of this, many women naturally ovulated around the full moon, when the world was most active and illuminated — a time when human behavior aligned with light, visibility, and communal connection.

To bleed on the new moon is to follow the inward pull of darkness and restoration. To ovulate on the full moon is to rise with illumination and vitality. This cycle mirrors the outward expression of life and creation, and women who experience it often feel most aligned with themes of nurturing, building, tending, and giving.

Red Moon Cycle — Bleeding on the Full Moon

Women whose cycles align with the full moon for menstruation and the new moon for ovulation are traditionally described as being in the Red Moon Cycle. This rhythm moves opposite to the typical fertility pattern: shedding in the light and building life in the darkness. It reflects a cycle oriented less toward outward creation and more toward inner transformation, intuition, and spiritual depth.

Women in this cycle are often associated with:

• Inner healing and shadow work

• Heightened intuition and psychic sensitivity

• Creativity directed toward spiritual or personal evolution

• A natural pull toward self-discovery, service, or mentorship rather than motherhood

The symbolism also arises from ancestral reality: because full moon nights were the brightest and most active, bleeding during this time meant a woman’s energy was turned inward when the world was most outward. While others gathered, she descended into her private, intuitive space — often becoming the wisdom-keeper or guide within her community. Ovulating in the new moon’s darkness aligned her creative energy with the unseen, the mysterious, and the energetic womb of possibility.

To bleed under full moon light is to shed during illumination — releasing what no longer serves in the brightest visibility of the lunar cycle. To ovulate in the dark is to cultivate creation quietly, inwardly, and energetically rather than socially or maternally. Women who experience this pattern often feel aligned with themes of intuition, spiritual insight, soul work, and guiding others through their own transformations.

Returning to Our Lunar Sync in the Modern World

In a world shaped by artificial time and artificial light, it’s natural that many women feel disconnected from the deeper rhythm of the moon. Screens, bright nights, and indoor living disrupt the subtle cues our bodies once relied on. Yet with conscious intention, we can return to this ancient harmony. Spending more time outdoors, reducing artificial light at night, increasing our exposure to natural sunlight, and practicing moon-bathing all help the body remember its original rhythm. With small shifts in lifestyle, we can re-attune to the moon, the seasons, and the cyclical intelligence woven into the feminine body.

Sacred Menstrual Meditation🩸✨

The Moon as a Mirror of the Feminine

When we look to Lady Luna as a mirror and guidepost for our inner world, our relationship to ourselves begins to change. The moon teaches us how to wax and wane, how to rest and rise, how to shed and begin again. As we reconnect with her phases, we often become more intuitive, more grounded, more psychic, and more well in our bodies. Moon-bathing, stepping outside at night, and simply observing her cycles invites our own cycles back into coherence. Through her, we remember that the feminine body is not random—it is lunar, rhythmic, and deeply wise.

Soo… are you a White Moon or a Red Moon women!? Let me know in the comment section below <3 My sacred menstrual meditation is the perfect place to start if you need help connecting to your cycles!

Sacred Menstrual Meditation🩸✨

From my heart to yours,

💌Shayna

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I had a long day chasing my 3-year-old, cluster feeding my 6-month-old, cooking, prepping for Thanksgiving, working… you get the gist.

After the 5th time of being bit by my teething baby (iykyk…), I lost it.
I handed my baby to my husband and stormed upstairs.

I was fuming with anger that, admittedly, was irrational.
I took a hot shower to drown out the noise of my baby crying for me downstairs, hoping it would help me center.
After 10 minutes, it wasn’t working.

So, I got out, got dressed, and decided to journal.
I was so angry — just raging onto the paper (I have been doing Journal Speak by Dr. Nicole Sachs if anyone is interested lmk in the comments!?)

Still no relief.
So I knew the only answer left was… meditation.

After 30 rounds (yes… 30) of deep pranayama, my monkey mind finally quieted, and I dropped in.

Guided meditations!

Suddenly… I was pulled out of my body and dropped into an infinite cosmic void — a vast, black expanse like outer space. Around me, swirling thought-forms moved like comets and stars, endless and luminous, an infinite sky of every idea, emotion, and memory drifting in all directions. This is where every thought form.. from past, present and future… existed.

These thought forms were drifting, evolving, never dying.

And front and center was every piece of content I had consumed recently — including the negative, low-frequency videos from earlier that day that definitely imprinted on me and made emotional regulation harder.

The random videos.
The gossip.
The political content.
All swirling around in this limitless void.

And right beside it all… was the content I’ve been working so hard to create.

This experience revealed two truths that changed the way I view social media — and my work — forever.

🕊️Doom Scrolling Is Dangerous

Doom scrolling isn’t just a waste of time.
It’s not just bad for your brain, extremely addicting, or something that disconnects you from your loved ones.

It’s dangerous because every image, every video, every frequency becomes an eternal imprint on your consciousness.

Whatever content you consume… you allow it to penetrate your field.

What I was shown is that nothing you consume ever truly disappears, because energy cannot be created or destroyed — it only changes form.
It lives on within you.

This is why doom scrolling leaves you feeling disconnected, drained, dysregulated, and “not yourself.”
It’s not psychological — it’s energetic.

🦋Creation Is Sacred

The content you create matters more than you could ever imagine.

What we create doesn’t fade once it’s posted.
It continues living in the collective field, shaping people long after they scroll away.

In my vision, every piece of content wasn’t “just a post.”
It was a living thought-form — a ripple hanging in the collective field.

When you share something, it doesn’t end when someone scrolls away.
It continues echoing through their subconscious.
It influences how they feel, heal, think, breathe, expand.

Your content becomes part of the psychic architecture of the collective.
It’s spiritual stewardship.
It’s energetic leadership.

The internet is not a “virtual space.”
A digital footprint is so much deeper than we think.

It’s an energetic imprint.

Your feed is a spiritual ecosystem.

This vision changed the way I view social media entirely.

Yes — I realized I need stronger boundaries and more discernment around what I consume and when.

But even more importantly…

It showed me how creators have the ability to spread seeds of light across the collective.
(And we all know the collective could use a lot more light right now.)

It gave me a deep sense of purpose — a knowing that what I share does have a lasting effect.

My biggest wish is that what I share, teach, and embody creates a positive ripple in you.

From my heart to yours,
💌Shayna

meditation & womb healing gallery🤍

In this post, I’m sharing three mystical truths about menstruation that no one told us — truths I discovered through ancient wisdom, modern science, and my own body.

Growing up, there was always this gloom and doom over our periods… as a pre-teen, it was THE moment you stepped into womanhood, and you couldn’t wait to “get it” like your friends. BUT once you “got it”… there is shame and embarrassment. All the boys saying, “she must have her period!” — and the sacredness and holiness of our periods completely got lost in the societal narrative that something is DIRTY about our periods. When in fact… it is the most SACRED time of the month for a woman. Our intuition? Our connection? Our ability to heal? All heightened. I used to dread my cycle… until I began to see it as a sacred ritual, a monthly dialogue with my womb.

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Truth #1 – Your Period is a Monthly Ritual of Psychic Detoxing

Every month, your womb opens a portal of purification. Your period is a monthly ritual of psychic detoxing. You release emotional and ancestral memory through your blood. When you bleed, your womb releases old emotional residue, trauma, and ancestral memory. Every month, you literally shed what your body no longer needs.

Across many mystical and ancestral cultures, menstruation was honored as sacred and powerful — not a curse or burden.

• In Hindu and Tantric traditions, it was seen as a manifestation of Shakti, a monthly portal of purification and creative power.

• In ancient Egypt and Greco-Roman societies, menstrual blood was considered spiritually potent, used in healing, ritual, and blessing.

• Indigenous and African traditions often viewed menstruating women as deeply connected to the spiritual realm, using this time for purification, protection, and inner work.

• Even in Mesoamerican cultures, blood and menstruation were tied to cosmic cycles, cleansing, and rebirth. In many mystical and ancient cultures, menstruation was sacred — a time for cleansing, reflection, and ritual.

Sooo yeahhh… your blood is your body literally shedding what it no longer needs! So let’s collectively, as women, stop viewing our cycles as a burden and instead see them as a release. Use this time as your internal winter. Go full hermit mode (as much as you can), rest, journal, meditate, and allow this detox to take place. Try sitting with your flow for 5 minutes on your next moon. Notice what wants to leave you!

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Truth #2 – Menstrual Blood is Regenerative & Sacred Medicine

Your period blood isn’t waste — it’s alchemy. Menstrual blood contains stem cells growth factors immune intelligence and regenerative properties. Ancient cultures believed menstrual blood was healing, spiritually potent and a life code carrier!

Ancient priestesses and goddesses were believed to channel the sacred power of menstruation. Menstrual blood was used in rituals, anointing, healing ceremonies, and blessings, seen as a potent life force. Figures like Isis in Egypt, Hindu goddesses in Tantric traditions, and temple priestesses across Greece, Rome, and Mesoamerica honored their cycles as a source of spiritual potency, healing, and connection to the divine feminine <3

Your body creates medicine once a month. Your womb is not a burden… she’s an ALCHEMIST.

It might sound crazy but maybe just maybe… to reclaim the wild women inside of you… save some of your blood next month and water your plants with it, give it back to Mother Earth, anoint your face or use it in a ritual or for moon magick? Maybe I will deep dive into this in another post…. let me know if that’s something you would like in the comments!?

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Truth #3 – Your Womb Has Its Own Brain & Speaks Through Your Cycle

Your uterus has its own intelligence — its own nervous system — and it communicates with you through your cycle! Yes… your womb has its own nervous system network. Your period is not random, it’s a monthly message from your womb about your stress, your boundaries, and your level of alignment!

• Period pain= blocked energy

• Late period= emotional overload

• Heavy cycle= releasing something

• Spotting = subtle energetic shifts

• Clotting = old stagnation being cleared

• Cramping= resistance

• PMS= Emotional & energetic build up

Your uterus has its own brain and it speaks through your menstrual cycle. Your period isn’t a burden its a portal and when you learn to use it you become unstoppable.

Your period is a portal. Your womb is an alchemist. Your blood is medicine. Each month, your body invites you into sacred dialogue — if you choose to listen.

This month, honor your flow: light a candle, place a hand on your womb, breathe, and ask: ‘What wants to be released? What wants to be born?

Let me know in the comments below what you thought of this post <3 As always, I would LOVE to hear from you guys. Thanks for being here!

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From my heart to yours,

💌Shayna

The Forgotten Rhythm

Women once lived in harmony with the moon — in rhythm with the cyclical nature of Mother Earth herself. Just as the moon waxes and wanes, the trees shed and bloom, the tides rise and fall, and the seasons turn — so do we. We are meant to create when inspiration stirs and rest when our bodies call us inward.

But modern society has pulled us away from this sacred flow. The patriarchy taught us to push through, to suppress our rhythms, to perform endlessly. We are told to pop in a tampon, take a Midol, fast harder, run faster, birth children, and work nine-to-fives — all while staying composed and productive. In this pressure to constantly do and achieve, we’ve become severed from our natural way of being — from our health, vitality, and essence.

For the women who are waking up, remembering their connection to the Earth and to the cycles within, there is an ancient map that guides us home — the wisdom of the Triple Goddess: the Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone.

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The Triple Goddess Archetype

Long before the modern world demanded we move in straight lines, women lived by the rhythm of the moon — and the Goddess was seen not as one, but as three.

The Triple Goddess is an ancient archetype that mirrors the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth — expressed through the Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone. She is not three separate beings, but one essence moving through different expressions of creation. Three sacred rites of passage that every woman experiences in her lifetime. Three phases, just like the moon (waxing, full, waning) and the life cycle (birth, growth, death).

The Maiden symbolizes birth and becoming, the Mother fullness and creation, and the Crone wisdom and surrender. A reminder to honor every phase of our feminine cycle as divine — each one as essential as the last.

She lives in all of us: the part that blooms with curiosity, the part that nurtures and creates, and the part that knows when it’s time to let go.

• Maiden — new beginnings, curiosity, creativity, sensual awakening

• Mother — nourishment, fertility (physical or creative), generosity, embodiment

• Crone — wisdom, release, stillness, intuition, death/rebirth

The Inner Moon Cycle

A woman moves through four distinct phases each month — a rhythmic dance of creation, expansion, release, and renewal.

1. Follicular Phase — the time after your period and before ovulation.
Your inner spring. Energy begins to rise, clarity returns, and inspiration awakens. The body feels lighter, ideas bloom, and the world feels full of possibility.

2. Ovulation Phase — when you are fertile.
Your inner summer. You’re radiant, magnetic, and social. Creativity and connection come easily, mirroring the Mother archetype in her fullest expression of life and love.

3. Luteal Phase — the time after ovulation.
Your inner fall. Energy begins to turn inward, emotions deepen, and truth surfaces. This is the realm of the Wild Woman — raw, intuitive, fiercely honest, and creative.

4. Menstrual Phase — when you are bleeding.
Your inner winter. A sacred time of rest, release, and reflection. Here lives the Crone — the wise one who retreats to the cave to listen, dream, and receive insight before the next rebirth.

Each phase mirrors a season — and together, they form the living cycle of the Triple Goddess within you: Maiden, Mother, and Crone. When you live in alignment with these rhythms, you return to your natural flow — embodying the full expression of your divine femininity.

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Living in Rhythm — Practical Integration

One of the simplest ways to step out of the patriarchy and return to our sacred feminine roots is to live in tune with our natural rhythm — to embody the Goddess archetypes throughout the month.

When we honor our inner seasons, we no longer force ourselves to fit into rigid structures that were never designed for us. The nine-to-five grind, the endless productivity cycle, the expectation to always be “on” — these are illusions of linear time. Women are cyclical beings. When you listen to your body and let your womb guide the way, you’ll find yourself not only more connected and in flow, but paradoxically, more productive than ever before.

Here’s how to live in rhythm with each phase:

🌸 Maiden (Follicular Phase)
After your bleed, energy begins to rise. This is the time to begin new projects, brainstorm, move your body, and explore creativity. The Maiden is playful, curious, and inspired — let her lead you into new beginnings.

🌕 Mother (Ovulation Phase)
You’re in full bloom. Nurture relationships, collaborate, express gratitude, and enjoy sensuality. The Mother energy is radiant, magnetic, and generous — pour your love and creativity into the world.

🔥 Wild Woman (Luteal Phase)
Energy turns inward and becomes powerful, passionate, and raw. Set boundaries, speak your truth, and channel your intensity into art or ritual. The Wild Woman is deeply intuitive and honest — she clears what no longer serves so that space is made for what’s real.

🌑 Crone (Menstrual Phase)
This is your sacred time of rest and renewal. Slow down. Journal your dreams, meditate, and disconnect from the outer world. The Crone whispers wisdom from the depths — when you honor her, you emerge clearer and more aligned for the next cycle ahead.

When you live this way — not by the clock, but by your inner moon — you reclaim what was always yours: rhythm, vitality, and sovereignty.

(You can deepen this connection through small rituals — journaling prompts, moon altars, tracking your cycle, or working with lunar phases.)

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Reclaiming the Sacred Feminine

If we as women want to move out of this artificial society and become more embodied, more sensual, and more connected to the divine feminine within, we must begin by honoring where we are. When we slow down and rest when our bodies ask us to, we refill our inner well — so that when our internal summer arrives, we are more intuitive, alive, and capable than ever.

Just because the patriarchy claims there is only one way to achieve success doesn’t mean slowing down will hold us back. In truth, it propels us forward — tenfold.

Reclaiming our femininity and our connection to the ever-changing Earth is part of a collective feminine awakening. When we live in tune with our cyclical nature, we restore balance and harmony — within ourselves, and across the planet. We heal the collective. We heal generations. We heal our lineage.

The Return to Wholeness

All faces of the Goddess live within us — the one who creates, nurtures, destroys, and renews. Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. Waxing, Full, and Waning. As above, so below.

Honoring your inner seasons is more than self-care — it is devotion to life itself, moving through you in sacred rhythm.

“She honors the regenerative process of death and rebirth, her inner seasons, and her cyclic nature.”
— Nina Petruzzo

From my heart to yours,

Shayna💌

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It was February 25, 2021. I was 24 years old, and my then-boyfriend and I had just gotten home from a romantic getaway in Costa Rica to celebrate Valentine’s Day. It was a brisk winter morning. After ten days of relaxation, couple’s massages, and exploring the jungle, we were back in our cozy two-bedroom apartment, getting dressed for the gym before work.

I was four days late on my period, but I assumed travel had thrown things off. Under the bathroom sink, I still had a leftover pregnancy test from months before. At 6 a.m., half-asleep and crampy, I decided to take it—more out of habit than actual suspicion. I set the stick down on the counter, got dressed, made coffee, and completely forgot about it.

A little while later, while brushing my teeth, I flipped the test over and—BAM. Two dark red lines. Clear as day.

Fuck.

I was pregnant.

Waves of shock, fear, and nervousness crashed over me. I’m only 24. I’m not married. We live in a walk-up apartment with no washer and dryer. I’m not ready. I haven’t had all the fun yet. What am I going to do?

Fast forward to today (September 2025). My first is almost three. My newest baby boy is almost four months. I’m one year married to my then-boyfriend. We moved into our dream four-bedroom home five months ago.

It all worked out 🥰

And yet—sometimes the loneliness of being the first of my circle to become a mom resurfaces.

The Isolation of Being “The First”

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Motherhood is a death and a rebirth. The moment those two lines appear, your world changes instantly. You are no longer living just for yourself—your beliefs, identity, priorities, motivations, and even your way of seeing the world shift overnight.

I was not the same person before the test and after. Something ended, and something else—someone else—was born.

But how do you relate to friends who haven’t gone through that? They’re still the same person they were a few months ago. You’re completely different.

A simple girls’ night becomes an orchestration only another mom could understand—the sitter, the guilt of leaving, pumping milk ahead of time, wondering if your baby will settle without you. And even when you’re out, your mind doesn’t rest.

Meanwhile, your friends’ biggest concerns might be what shoes to wear, what cocktail to order, or whether they’ll be too hungover for Pilates the next morning.

You don’t resent them. You even envy the simplicity. But the harder feeling is isolation. Sitting at a table, smiling and laughing, while no one there understands the weight of what you’re carrying. They don’t see what it took to show up. They don’t know that when you get home, you’ll still be up three times in the night, and awake at 7 a.m. like always—because your baby needs you.

It’s not their fault. You can’t know what you don’t know.

The thing is: mothers aren’t meant to do this alone. We’re meant to mother with a village—with like-minded moms and elders guiding, supporting, teaching. Without that, the loneliness grows louder. And maybe that’s why I still long for connection—because deep down, it’s what motherhood was always meant to be.

The Absence of a Mothers and a Village

Motherhood has a way of pulling every buried trauma to the surface. It’s as if life is asking you to heal—not only for yourself, but for your children.

Once I became a mom, I started noticing all the other mothers in the world differently. When I see a mama in the grocery store, I feel this wave of respect and admiration. A deep reverence for the women who came before me, carving the path of motherhood with their strength and sacrifice.

And yet, alongside that reverence, something else stirred—resentment. Because if you’re like me, and your relationship with your own mother is estranged, motherhood reopens those wounds. The questions came flooding back: How could she not do what was best for me? How could she not be in my life? How could she abandon me? How can you not carry me through pregnancy and postpartum?

Becoming a mom made me realize how much I’d been shorted. I didn’t have a mother to call. I didn’t have a built-in village of women to lean on. I was raised by a single dad. My in-laws live a thousand miles away. My closest friends are still child-free.

So here we are: just me and my husband, day in and day out, figuring it all out as we go.

Building Your Own Strength: Finding Community, Support and Resilience

Even though I still have moments of “woe is me,” after being a mom for almost three years, I’ve learned that no one is going to magically come save you. My mother isn’t suddenly going to become the woman I need. My friends, as much as I adore them, can’t fully relate to what I’m living. And that’s okay.

I’ve learned to find strength in my partnership, carve out small moments for myself, and build a community online of amazing, like-minded women who truly understand. Day by day, moment by moment, I’m also working to find a network of moms in real life who can relate to the joys and challenges of motherhood.

I know that in time, I will be surrounded by incredible women who understand the complexities and nuances of raising children. Until then, I am turning this pain into purpose—becoming a guide and anchor for other women who seek connection, support, and understanding. This is why I share my motherhood journey on TikTok, Instagram, and Substack.

If you’re reading this and it resonates, please know: I see you. I support you. There is a web of mamas around the world, invisibly holding hands, rocking their babies through the night. Even when you feel alone, there is an invisible thread connecting us all and for that I am forever grateful <3

If this spoke to you, please share it with a friend who needs to hear it <3 Thank you so much for being here, and if you’d like to support my work, please subscribe!

From my heart to yours,

Shayna💌

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🌏 Truth #1: Birth is a Universal Experience

There are 8 billion people on earth… and guess what? ALL of them had a mother who birthed them. If they can do it- so, can YOU! Not to be full of myself, but I know in my CORE that I am capable of doing anything I set my mind to. So, the simple fact that women have been birthing babies for billions of years (usually in a cave somewhere with no pain relief or medical interventions) makes me believe in myself! We are capable of difficult and challenging experiences.

💪🏼 Truth #2: Labor = Pain with a Purpose

Labor is the only time you will feel pain that is not causing you harm. Let me repeat that… no matter how painful labor and delivery are, they are not causing you harm. The pain is productive. Every contraction is bringing your baby closer and closer to you. This is why I chose to reframe the word “pain” into “sensations” or “intensity.” Yes… labor is INTENSE AS HELL; however, once you understand that it’s your body working hard to birth your baby, and the pain is PURPOSEFUL, you won’t feel fear when the surges get stronger and stronger. You begin to reprogram your mind to not be afraid. Bonus: when we move out of fear (our sympathetic nervous system) and into deep relaxation (parasympathetic nervous system), not only will labor progress faster, but the experience will feel less intense.

🌹 Truth #3: Women are Designed for Childbirth

You were literally MADE for childbirth. Biologically speaking, women are designed to procreate and reproduce. Our very existence as humans quite literally relies on women being able to give birth. I don’t mean this in a “women are only good for one thing” type of way- I am just speaking in terms of biology and evolution. Nature is with us, not against us, in this matter. Women are fricken COOL and we have a deep wisdom inside of us. The uterus is the strongest muscle in the human body. Your pelvis has the ability to expand. Your hormones release natural pain relief and help you and your baby stay connected. Every system in your body works together for this one incredible purpose: to bring life earthside!!

💞 Truth #4: Childbirth is WORTH IT

If childbirth was SO bad and SO traumatizing and so downright awful… would anyone ever willingly have more than one child? No. Why do women have multiple children? Because what we get on the other side of pregnancy, labor, and delivery is absolutely worth it. The moment your sweet baby is laid on your chest, all of the “pain” you just experienced completely fades away. The unconditional love and expansiveness of becoming a mama is 1000000000% worth the entire experience, no matter how difficult or intense it was.

⌚️ Truth #5: You Can Do Anything for ONE Minute

Did you know the average contraction lasts one minute? Yep… that’s it. Actually, in early labor, contractions can last 20–30 seconds, and during transitional labor (the very end when it’s most intense), contractions last 60–90 seconds. AND you get a break in between them (until the veryyyyy end) to regroup and rest. YOU CAN DO ANYTHING FOR ONE MINUTE!! I think a lot of first-time moms think labor will start and they will be screaming in excruciating pain for the next 12–14 hours, and that is sooo far from the truth. Labor progresses slowly AND you do get breaks in between the “pain.”

After birthing two beautiful babies, I am in adoration of women. What our bodies are capable of building, sustaining, and birthing is nothing short of MIRACULOUS. Women are so strong and so capable. I know ANY woman reading this is capable of having the birth of her dreams. If this resonated with you, please share it with a mama-to-be who needs to hear it <3

From my heart to yours,
Shayna 💌

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A walk down memory lane…

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Welcome to your virtual village <3

I am so happy you’re here :) I want to take a moment to introduce myself for those of you who don’t know me. My name is Shayna; I live in NJ (anyone else live in the tri-state area!?) and am raising 2 little boys. My oldest, River, will be 3 in November and our newest little addition, Bodhi, was born in May (currently 3 months old).

I started sharing my motherhood journey (pregnancy, birth prep, postpartum, motherhood feelings, divine femininity) on TikTok in March 2025 when I was preparing for my unmedicated birth. I am slowly but surely growing a community of amazing mamas and women over there and on Instagram. Although I LOVE creating content on Instagram & TikTok I feel a call to dive deeper in order to really build a true community or VILLAGE of likeminded mamas. I also am hopeful to incorporporate more of spirituality, healing, yoga, meditation, astrology, sacred femininity into these posts (let me know if that’s your jam in the comments below!). Sometimes it’s difficult to really get to know you all (and vice versa) through a 1–2-minute video so I am hoping this platform will allow me to go deeper, get juicer and truly share from my soul.

In order to not be to too overzealous given how FULL life is at the moment (mom of 2 under 2.5, I work full time, have 3 pets, a hubbie, a home AND am trying to grow my brand online) I am going to commit to doing a post every Wednesday (maybe more ;))

Welcome to your virtual village <3

Something I am missing IRL (and something so many of you have said you also crave) is a VILLAGE. Where is our village that everyone talks about!? We aren’t meant to do this alone. This is probably the MAIN reason I decided to build a community online- to connect, learn and help other women in my shoes. So… if you are interested in being part of a network of like-minded moms, hearing about my experiences and lessons then drop a comment down below, I can’t wait to hear from you!

"It takes a village to raise a child, but it also takes a village to raise a mother."