If it sounds like I’m speaking a foreign language, let me simplify things a bit…

Basically, since September 2024, we’ve been moving through a series of life lessons surrounding themes of:

Surrender vs. Control: The delicate balance between asserting control when necessary and loosening our grip on life. Rigidity vs. fluidity, and learning how to balance the two.

Practicality vs. Spirituality: Is there a world in which both can exist? Absolutely. And I believe both are necessary in order to live our most fulfilling lives. Beauty and necessity in the magical, unseen, tangible, and mundane.

We’ve also been given an opportunity to reflect on habits that no longer serve us related to escapism, self-sabotaging behaviors, and outdated routines that we may have outgrown.

And this week was the culmination of these big lessons. Pretty intense stuff for some, if not all, of us. Eclipse seasons impact us each differently since we all have very unique birth charts (which are essentially snapshots of the planets at the time of our birth that can tell us A LOT about ourselves and the seasons we move through).

So if it’s felt challenging, uncomfortable, draining, or exhausting, you’re right where you should be: being a human, navigating this human experience, and being asked to evolve, grow, and shift.

Or if this past week or two has felt easy breezy, consider yourself one of the lucky ones. An A+ student who passed your lessons early on in this two-year journey or sometime along your life path.

For me, personally, a super sensitive cancer who feels just about everything…? I’m so ready to hop back into bed this late afternoon after I enjoy a little self care at Pilates with a friend. It’s been a daunting couple weeks of back to school and sports and all that that has entailed. Momma is tired and ready for a weekend of Netflix and chill!

Eclipse seasons have a way of fast-tracking our lives and our growth and often illuminate what needs our attention. Sometimes they bring unexpected shifts or magical manifestations, and they almost always invite us to evolve and awaken. So the next time you hear, “It’s eclipse season,” I hope you think: “Ahh. A time to be gentle with myself. The universe is just asking me to grow again.” 🌻

Sending you love my friends, in whatever season you’re currently navigating. May you find both strength & softness to handle it all 🤎 xox, Mel

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We had a substitute teacher who was super relatable and had a great sense of humor. We all snickered after he shared what the teaching was going to be about. About half of the attending members were first-timers curious about Buddhism and meditation who decided to drop in for a class. What an interesting class they were somehow led to, not the lightest topic to cover on a random Tuesday night in June, but here we were. In Buddhism, the belief is that every experience we have is a ripening of the karma we’ve sown in either a past life or this life (positive, negative, or neutral), and that it is very positive karma to arrive at these teachings. If you find yourself reading these words, it is your good karma that brought you here. That’s what a Buddhist would say anyway ;).

So meditate on death, huh? Our teacher shared stories and read from the book Introduction to Buddhism by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, and when he finished, we could all agree on a few things: 1. Death is inevitable for every living being 2. The timing of our death is unknown and can happen at any point in time 3. We could indeed die today (just to really drive the point home) lol. A little mind-boggling to focus on, but true. A woman laughed to herself, seated beside me, and I wondered what was going through her mind and if she’d ever be back in class again.

Our teacher continued to explain that this Dharma, or the wisdom of the Buddha, was not to bring us fear or angst, but to bring us a greater sense of awareness. If we could die at any time, how would we like our hearts and minds to be at the time of death, and what is really important to us and these precious human lives we live?

What if our minds and hearts are disturbed, full of hatred or discontent, resentful, or bitter when we pass? What if we spent most of our time here focusing on material possessions that we can’t take with us or allowing uncontrolled financial desires to consume our day-to-day? Or would it be best if we focused our minds and hearts on being spiritually open, on the journey to seek out more love, compassion, empathy, and forgiveness? A deeper sense of connection with the greater world around us? The stakes became higher as the lesson sank in. If we could die at any given time, what is really worth our time and energy? What is of greatest importance? This especially hit home for me. I lost a loved one suddenly when he was just 41 years old.

It became clear that this meditation and teaching weren’t really about death. They were about life. They were asking us to consider what matters enough to carry in our hearts if today happened to be our last day. They were planting seeds of spirituality in our minds that might ripen into a more compassion-filled, loving, heart-centered way of being. According to Buddhism, there isn’t anything of greater importance.

As our teacher wrapped up the evening with gratitude and gave us the opportunity to ask questions, the woman seated beside me, who had chuckled earlier in class, raised her hand to share a story with us. Just this past weekend, she almost lost her life! She choked on a Chick-fil-A nugget! Thankfully, she survived and somehow ended up at our sangha last night. Coincidental? I didn’t think so; neither did she. I told her that I was glad she didn’t die! And somehow, after all that death talk, I left class floating on a cloud like I always do. My mind expanded, and my heart full of peace and contentment, weird but true.

There will be moments in life that crack our hearts wide open. Moments that take our breath away. Moments that can either turn us toward love and empathy or lead us to run in the opposite direction. This is life as a human, having a human experience, and it’s freaking hard. In Buddhism, it is called samsara - an endless cycle of death and rebirth filled with suffering (until we awaken our hearts and minds). We can run straight into the arms of blame, shame, hatred, or division if we so choose… God knows there are plenty of circumstances that make this path seem pretty reasonable. Or we can choose an alternative route - a spiritual one that seeks higher wisdom and meaning, compassion for all living beings, mental discipline, and leads us toward a life of inner peace and contentment. If you knew you could die today, like really believed you could, which path would you choose?

Of course, Buddhism is not the only path toward spirituality; it’s just my chosen path at this time, and its teachings resonate deeply with my soul. If you happen to be interested in exploring modern Buddhism, here are some great places to start (and if you’re local and would like to drop in on a Tuesday night, I’d love to share location and timing info with you - just shoot me a message or email):

Podcasts:

The Modern Buddhism Podcast

The Way Out Is In

Books:

Introduction to Buddhism by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

How To Solve Our Human Problems by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

The Daily Buddhist by Pema Sherpa & Brendan Barca

Wishing us all a very long and prosperous life, xox

Melanie

Reflecting back, this past year has been one of the most significant years of growth and evolution for me, allowing me to figure out who I am at 40 and what I value most. My priorities have absolutely shifted. The financial sacrifices made in order to prioritize my well-being, our family life, and the exploration of a new career path have been well worth it. I understand this is an immense privilege I hold, and I do not take it for granted. I hope these insights are helpful for you too 🙏🏽

1. There is nothing more important than our health - the health of our minds and bodies. Not wealth, material possessions, or status. We cannot live a joyful life if we are constantly under stress and duress. We cannot force our way past symptoms and disease. The routines that keep my mind peaceful and my body healthy are my number one priority. From this place, I can care for my loved ones and serve others.

2. Financial gain does not equate to success for me personally. I’m content with the simple things in life. Sure, I love beautiful things, and to live comfortably, but living with less seems to bring us less stress. I cannot wait to sell our vacation rental property, so our lives can be simplified even more.

3. My children and husband, the relationships I have with them, and my closest loved ones are my priority, which often means cocooning into home life. I don’t have a lot of excess to give in this season, and I’m ok with that. My babies will be grown one day, and I’ll have plenty of time for nurturing friendships, career aspirations, traveling, etc, then.

4. It brings me great joy and satisfaction to share freely from the heart… writing here on Substack, random shares on Instagram, guiding meditations. It all feeds my soul and is my contribution to anyone who benefits. It’s important for me to support and teach others all that I’ve learned along my journey from chaos to peace.

5. I’m ready for a different career, a slow, sustainable one. A career that I can grow into as my family life evolves and my children age. A career that serves as a conduit of peace, love, support, and deep connection. I will be dissatisfied otherwise. At 40, I have so much I want to share and do. But slowly, and steadily.

6. If one person benefits from my words and work, from my meditations, it’s all worth it.

7. Having a compassion practice and community of like-minded individuals (for me, this is my Buddhist Sangha or Community) is necessary for my inner peace and my ability to bring kindness out into the world, especially during such tumultuous times as these. I’m so sensitive and empathic and pick up the energy of others, so after dodging volleyballs and hearing countless whistles blowing every other weekend lol, this community cleanses my energy and heart. Meditation and nature are also incredibly cleansing for me.

8. The world will continue to speed up, but life feels best for me when I’m moving at my own pace (which tends to be on the slower side), when I have time to wander, to allow creativity to flow through me, to read books, to be in nature. To be quiet. I hope to never sacrifice my authentic rhythm and nature for work’s sake again. I might not have known this was my authentic pace and nature had it not been for taking an entire year off work.

9. We should embrace shifting and evolving, growing, learning, and self-reflecting, and not be resistant to it. This is the key to an easier time here on earth 💡

10. My work as a mother is the most important work of my life. To be present with my children, to be able to support and love them, is the greatest gift and blessing. Creating and working on something of my own, in service of others, is an important part of how I show up as a mother. It brings me balance and joy to hold both.

To know myself, this version of myself feels so valuable right now, after walking away from 20 years of work as an actor. Work that I identified with and thought of as my purpose for so long. I hope my words offer you encouragement if you find yourself in a transitional season or feel like you’re ready to start a new chapter. There is so much to learn in a pause, so much beauty, so much to garner when life slows down a bit and we can be with ourselves, and take our time understanding what our priorities and desires really are. The world will shift around you when you are ready to take a leap of faith, and you will find everything you need to make it through to the other side.

And as you might already know, meditation has been such an important part of my life over the last ten years. It’s changed me on a cellular level and has revealed every answer to anything I’ve ever been seeking. As my busy mind got quieter, my intuition grew louder, and I am committed to supporting others in this way.

The first meditation I created on Insight Timer is for anyone feeling angst or fear about an upcoming event in their lives - could be a doctor’s appointment (this was me recently), a meeting with a challenging someone, an exam, it could be anything that brings on anxiety or overwhelmth. This meditation in particular has a soothing and almost dream-like vibe to it. It would be great before bed or in a moment when you’re really ready to relax. I just tested it out before a volleyball tournament last weekend and felt so relaxed on the court. I am ready to feel relaxed at all times haha.

My meditation teacher often asks, “When we spend time in meditation, what is the likelihood that in our next moment we will be angry, lashing out, or in an unpeaceful state?” And we all unanimously answer, “Not very likely.” When you soothe the mind, you carry that energy out into the world, and that is the start of creating peace, both internally and externally.

Over time, I hope to teach courses on Insight Timer, utilizing my certifications in Integrative Nutrition and Astrology as well. There are great possibilities on that platform and so many wonderful resources. I feel grateful to be included in their growing community. So, whether you’re an avid meditator or someone who is newly curious about mindfulness and spirituality, here is the link to my first meditation on Insight Timer and my account. If you could use a little peace in your life, go ahead and give me a follow over there. I hope to bring you just that 🙏🏽♥️

Xo,

Mel

https://insighttimer.com/supportedbymel

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March 21st marked the start of Aries season and the Spring Equinox. In astrology, it’s also considered the astrological new year, which makes total sense as to why January never really feels all that motivating. Aries season brings fire and momentum, initiation and excitement! It’s a great opportunity to take action, assert yourself when necessary, and set some boundaries. Since it also brings an abundance of heightened fiery energy, it’s also important to ground that momentum with physical movement and self-care practices. If not, we’ll likely find ourselves burnt out and battling impatience and frustration. Naturally, I’ve experienced a little bit of it all, as a true water sign (Cancer) and empath tends to.

The end of March brought much excitement and fun as our baby girl turned 16!! Wow! I actually cannot believe we have a 16 year old! Every year, I feel so fortunate to celebrate my little loves, and also feel a bit of grief that yet another year has passed. I can feel the grip of parenting loosen ever so slightly with each passing year. We celebrated our birthday girl with dinners and sweet treats, a spring shopping spree, and a Miguel concert. I have a tendency to overindulge my loved ones on Birthdays, special occasions, and holidays. Life brings much hard work and challenges, and should also include equal parts celebration and fun, in my opinion!

As April barreled forward, I knew it was time to part ways with the realtor we’ve been working with, since we purchased our vacation rental investment property almost three years ago. She is an absolutely lovely person, but I felt as though I was over communicating and initiating in ways that I shouldn’t be as the client within our relationship. I could feel frustration bubbling under the surface, telling me it was time to move on. Our dynamic, together, was not going to get this condo sold and my intuition was guiding me in another direction. I was able to use the Aries’ qualities of self-assertion and leadership to prioritize my needs and take action in order to manifest a new realtor who is aligned with our vision. I feel confident that our condo will be sold in the coming months. Success!

April also brought us spring break and the need to set some boundaries in the parenting realm. My husband and I undertook a bedroom makeover for our tween, which meant our workload increased quite a bit. Furniture building and selling, cleaning, and donating brought us a bit of stress and burnout as we also navigated the rest of our daily duties as working parents, still in the throes of a travel volleyball season for both girls. I also began marketing our condo to secure bookings for spring and summer. My plate has been very full, and my cup is almost empty. I’ve asked our girls for extra help around the house, including assuming the full responsibilities of washing, drying, and folding their own laundry. At 12 and 16, they are fully capable of doing so, and I’m feeling grateful and relieved to gain some time to focus on personal aspirations of my own.

Because of all that we’ve been navigating this season, I’ve found myself using social media strategically instead of scrolling aimlessly. My busyness has brought me self-imposed boundaries and realizations, and it’s felt really good to minimize my time there. I plan to share more writing-based content on my @supportedbymel Instagram account, similar to what I share here. If I’m going to spend time on social media, I’d like it to be meaningful, intentional, and helpful.

It’s been really important for me to focus my energy and attention where it’s needed most this spring, and eliminate anything excess. Self-care for me in this season has meant slowing down when I’m able, maintaining exercise routines, and eating mostly whole foods. I ate too much sugar in Charleston during the latter part of my Luteal phase, and let me tell ya, the PMS was PMSing!

I consciously seek out lessons in every season and believe that when we find them and learn from them, the universe no longer needs to continue sending them our way. Here’s a little recap of the lessons I’ve learned so far this spring:

1. Self-assertion is necessary - asking for what you need and desire is a non-negotiable in order to be successful in business and relationships. Our needs will not be met if we don’t voice them.

2. While someone may be a fantastic human and a great hire for some, they just might not be a great fit for your goals and vision. Repeated frustration is an indicator that it’s time to move on.

3. When life feels overwhelming or exceedingly busy, there is always a path to return to your priorities. Getting clear on what those are in any given season is so important.

4. I enjoy social media when I’m using it intentionally. If not, I find myself aimlessly scrolling and scatterbrained, as my mom used to say, lol.

5. Making time for fun and celebrations brings me so much joy and fills up my cup. I love celebrating life!

6. As my girls grow older, they are capable of managing their own personal chores. It builds empowerment, resilience, and is an important step towards independence.

7. Exercise, walking in nature, sitting in quiet for at least 20 minutes a day, and eating well make life a whole lot easier.

Next week, the energy will shift again as we enter Taurus season, and I’ll be looking forward to its slower, grounded, and comforting pace. One thing is for sure: the more we welcome and embrace change, the better our experience of this lifetime will be. Wishing you beautiful days ahead, friends.

Xox, Mel

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I’ve also found incredible validation and wisdom from my understanding of astrology, and I often receive beautiful guidance and symbolism from animal sightings in nature, repetitive numbers, and dreams. I can spot the spiritual lesson in any challenge I encounter, and meditation, or sitting with my thoughts, is one of my greatest spiritual practices. I also have very strong intuitive capabilities and can sense, see, and predict certain experiences before they happen. I don’t do predictive psychic work for others because my intuition, just like anyone’s, is not 100% accurate. And since we’re all human, with egos, fears, and traumas, our intuition is often colored by our own life experiences, and I don’t believe it’s ethical to do so.

At the core of my spirituality, I believe we are all connected - to one another, to every living being, and to an infinite source of divinity that flows through us and surrounds us. I have deep love and compassion for all, even those who commit atrocities. Although much harder to muster, I see the humanity in them too, and understand that those who commit the most heinous acts are the most traumatized, and were once innocent children like our own. I also understand the karma that they sew for such acts, and I feel compassion for their grave futures, especially those unable to change, and lacking the financial, spiritual, intellectual, or emotional resources to do so.

I also believe we’re all here on this planet in a life school of sorts. I believe our souls have full awareness of the journeys we sign up for prior to being born into human form, and it is up to us, in this lifetime, to decipher what our soul lessons are. Understanding your north and south nodes in astrology will give you a better understanding of the overarching themes of those soul lessons. These life lessons all impact one another - a lesson in assertion for one may be a lesson in integrity for another. Both lessons serve the greater good and are necessary for both souls’ evolution.

The tensions of the past several years are not coincidental, nor is the intensity we’re currently experiencing in our country. Oftentimes, the greatest lessons we learn in life come from our most challenging and intense experiences. Our country, its principles and values, are absolutely up for review. Systems that are unsustainable and unjust are crumbling and will continue to, as there is an emphasis placed on the greater good of humanity, equality, and justice for all beings (not just those that belong to one race, gender, religion, political affiliation, socioeconomic status, or way of thinking or being). And when I look at the astrology, mixed with my own intuition, I think it may be helpful to understand that we should expect February through spring to be very eventful and eye-opening.

The collective is being asked to evolve yet again. We can choose to grip on to old ways of being and seeing, or we can open our minds and hearts to the realities at large. Some will grow spiritually throughout these challenging times, recognizing our shared humanity, expanding past binary red and blue or black and white thinking, while others will resist growth and evolution, clinging to that which does not serve all, and unfortunately, experience more challenging karma.

There will be positive change and fortuitous times ahead, and there will also be destruction, discord, and the duality of life - the good and the bad, the light and the dark, and everything in between. This is what it means to be human, afterall. No one is exempt from suffering, so loving one another is crucial. However, so is growth and evolution.

As someone who sees the world through this lens, I think it’s very important to note that to be a compassionate, spiritual, and practical being does not mean we turn a blind eye toward injustices; it does not mean we allow mistreatment of ourselves or others. It means quite the opposite. We act with integrity and love for ourselves and one another, with self-respect and respect for our neighbor (even when they see things differently than we do). We set boundaries but do so without hatred in our hearts, and we hold eachother accountable when we stray.

We use our words with caution and wisdom and avoid divisive language and behavior, and when we lose a fellow human, our hearts break, no matter our stance on political events. We understand that our actions and inactions impact the greater world at large, so we grow in awareness and strive for a greater capacity to love and forgive when we misstep. We do our part to take right action. And we understand that by living life in this way, we create the conditions for peace and harmony - every single one of us. Our outer world is a reflection of our inner world and the work we are each willing to do internally, as well as externally.

Right action is a Buddhist term that “emphasizes ethical conduct that avoids harming oneself or others. It generally refers to conduct that is aligned with moral integrity, wisdom, and compassion, aiming to reduce suffering for oneself and others while fostering harmony and spiritual growth.” Easier said than done while living in a time when news outlets and many media sources are grabbing for our attention, promoting division, and clouding our minds to the realities right in front of us - influencing us to choose sides, and build walls instead of bridges. But it’s definitely possible.

We can look to the most peaceful countries on Earth, places like Iceland, Ireland, and New Zealand, and see what’s prioritized: community care, social trust, mental health, education, and systems that support the collective well-being. We can also choose to focus on media and resources that counter the noise - good news outlets that highlight positive change, meditation and mindfulness apps that calm the mind and nervous system, music, theatre, books, art, and trauma-informed therapies that help us respond rather than react.

The good is within reach every single day, but it requires an intention to choose awareness over reactivity, curiosity over certainty, and compassion over fear, again and again. This is the resistance the world truly needs, one conscious human at a time.

As the noise gets louder, and the intensity grows over the coming months, I hope the following resources will support you as they support me. I’ll absolutely be leaning on them, too.

Practical & Spiritual Resources for Intense Times:

1. Therapy: I haven’t been to therapy in almost two years and just scheduled an appointment, and I am so looking forward to it. Being emotionally held and heard during hard times feels like the greatest gift I can give myself.

2. Creating a “finsta” account if you use Instagram. For over a year, I’ve had a little “finsta” account, an Instagram account I’ve purposely curated where there is zero pressure for me to show up or like anything. I don’t accept followers, have zero pictures up, and only follow my favorite, most peaceful influencers that bring me enjoyable, calm content that soothes my soul. I highly recommend it!

3. I follow “good news” outlets, like @goodnews_movement, @tanksgoodnews, @consciouslyelle, and @somegoodnews. The reality is that the bad news will always find us, unless we’re literally living off the grid. We can counter our negativity bias with good news stories to promote wellbeing.

4. Obviously, I’m going to say meditate or just sit with your thoughts for 5 minutes each day 💁🏽‍♀️ If you’re interested in apps, I recommend Calm, Insight Timer, Headspace, YouTube... so many great options with free resources too.

5. Book recommendations to grow your spiritual awareness and expand your mind and consciousness, like The Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav, A Path With Heart by Jack Kornfield, The Daily Buddhist by Pema Sherpa & Brendan Barca, and Journey of the Souls by Michael Newton 📖 I think the greatest gift we can give the world and each other is to open our minds to other perspectives.

6. Leaning on a compassion practice that influences love for ALL living beings, not just those that think, vote, and believe like me. For me, that is Buddhism 🙏🏽

7. Nature! Nature! Nature! I promise it has all the answers 🌲

(Notice that none of these resources are costly, aside from therapy without insurance.)

I hope my writing and perspective help in some way. Our words and actions carry weight, and whether we believe it or not, we all have influence in our homes and communities. I’ll be over here mustering up all my strength to be a vessel and vision holder of peace. It feels like an alternative and necessary path during such chaotic times, and I’m up for the challenge. Sending you so much love and compassion during these fragile moments. We are truly all in this together 💛 xoxo, Melanie

I’ve never been a morning person; I find myself either sluggish and cranky or scattered and anxious. For this reason and many others, I began meditating 10 years ago and undoubtedly changed my entire life and my brain for the very best. 20 minutes later, I float into the tournament as if I’ve been carried in on a cloud and watch my oldest daughter play ball for 6 hours, with a present and clear mind. On Sunday, I rinse and repeat, and watch my youngest daughter do the same. This time for ten.

During these long days on the court, I overhear a family arguing over politics, a man snapping rudely at a child, and whistles blowing noisily. I experience the energy of hundreds, as well as the highs and lows of a team sport, and have many small conversations with people I’ve just met for the first time, as well as friends we’ve played with before. Somehow, amidst it all, I remain equanimous. Calm. Content. At peace. As an empath and incredibly sensitive soul, I wouldn’t have been able to withstand this years ago. I would have melted into a puddle, lol! Or at the very least, taken my discomfort from absorbing so much chaos out on someone else, likely my children or husband.

The truth is, for much of my life, my mind has been a difficult and messy place to live, especially as I became a parent and had to navigate not only my own energy, emotions, and moods, but those of my children and husband. I’ve always been extremely sensitive, emotional, and empathic, and without meditating regularly, I could also be considered quite reactive, moody, and temperamental. Mental illness and alcoholism run in my family, as does unhealed trauma. I’d say the odds were never really in my favor to have a peaceful mind. But despite it all, 10 years later, I now experience deep inner contentment and peace nearly every day, regardless of external circumstances.

Just last week, a woman became disgruntled with me in a parking lot. Our SUVs wouldn’t both fit through the only entrance and exit as we planned. I paused for a moment to figure out who should go first, and in front of her child, the woman shouted at me through her window, making hand gestures.

In a split second, my actions could have taken me down very different paths. I could allow her to rile me up and derail my peaceful mind and maybe even flip her off (something I’ve definitely done in the past). I could ignore her and internalize her anger. Or I could use the tools I’ve cultivated in my meditation practice and attempt to be the peace I want to see in the world, bless her, and pray for her.

Which of those actions do you think would contribute most to my peace and happiness, and hopefully hers? I’ll give you a hint, I did not flip her off lol. Instead, I blessed her, prayed for her, and had a great story to share with my girls after school that day. The moral of my story was that when we act from a place of peace, love, and compassion, we have the ability to positively impact the world around us and create a ripple effect. Given the state of our country and planet, I believe there is nothing more important.

I’m not perfect. I’m definitely human and have my moments, but when I sit with myself and calm my mind daily, I’m more likely to act from that clear, tranquil place. And I share these experiences as a beacon of hope. If it’s possible for me to heal my inner world and find inner peace, it is absolutely possible for anyone and everyone. Sure, it takes work and effort, but if we want to experience and witness peace in our homes, communities, country, and on our planet, we must cultivate it within ourselves first.

We will never be able to control all external circumstances or the ongoing current events of our time, but we can learn to navigate the inner world within us. The inner world that then impacts our loved ones and the outer world, either catalyzing more trauma and pain or more peace and compassion. We can learn to sit with ourselves, to understand our emotions and the messages they are communicating, and to offer ourselves kindness and gentleness, so we may offer the same to others.

So if you find yourself inundated and overwhelmed by the headlines or the noisiness of the world around you, I hope you remember that there is a quiet, still place within you that needs your attention and care the most. And taking time with her, in whichever way you choose, may be just the thing that helps you slowly untangle the ball of yarn in your mind and allows you to understand your needs, moods, emotions, and habits. And over time, you may develop so much love and compassion for yourself and others that you’re able to sit in the eye of the storm (or the political unrest of our day) and realize that the storm always passes, and that you’re going to be ok ♥️

A few weeks ago, I came across a post on Instagram based on the Chinese Astrology of 2025, the year of the snake, and the words used to describe it were ‘transformative, shedding, release, renewal, inner growth, dissolving illusions, flexibility, slow intentional evolution’. Do they strike a chord with you? They definitely resonate with me, and it feels important for me to share all that unfolded - for myself and for anyone else that may have had a very challenging year. You are not alone.

January and February were a bit of a blur; our weekends were spent at cheer competitions and volleyball tournaments with our girls. A winter filled with much more busyness than my nervous system is primed for during what should be the slowest-paced and most restorative part of the year. By early March, I felt lethargic and exhausted as I began narrating my second audiobook of the season.

The book I embarked on was risky, with lots of explicit sex scenes that I wasn’t super comfortable narrating. While the project had been positioned as a romance, it bordered on erotica, which I had never narrated before. With the added pressure of urgent deadlines from casting, I didn’t have time to thoroughly review the manuscript and hastily accepted the offer. A few days into book prep and narration, I realized there were also racial stereotypes on the page, and I knew this project was not for me. Nope, nope, nope. After multiple conversations with casting, production, and the author, I made the decision to rescind my acceptance and terminate the project I had already begun. I felt empowered and liberated.

The author was very concerned and sent me an email, hoping to understand my stance on her writing. I eloquently educated her as to why writing about a Latina woman’s experience as a non-Latina woman, and including antiquated and outlandish stereotypes that I had never even heard of before, was not helpful, and I believed it was actually harmful. Her writing perpetuated a narrative that didn’t exist, therefore placing it in the minds of anyone who read her book. She explained her intent was to disprove racial and sexual stereotypes by emphasizing them in her book, and while I could kind of understand her perspective, I still could not get on board with it. I expressed my sincere wishes for her continued success and concluded our correspondence. The whole experience felt divinely guided; the universe was presenting me with an opportunity to express a boundary and uplevel my self-worth, and I was ready to do so. I was tired of performing, tired of narrating other people’s stories and words. It was time to share my own.

April forged ahead with more business travel on the calendar for my husband and a spring break where we’d steal away to the beach for a bit. After March’s audiobook mayhem, I decided to press pause on work for the time being. I could feel the need for a reassessment and reevaluation of my career goals. By the time we returned from spring break, I had found the clarity I’d been seeking. It was time for a full-blown career pause and possible career shift. I also had the strong inner knowing that it was time to part ways with our oceanfront investment property (that I had also been leading marketing and communication efforts for). I had inadvertently taken on so much, and I could no longer hold it all.

When I look back at all of the hats I’ve been wearing for so many years, just adding things to my plate left and right, it makes me sad. Somewhere along the way, I learned that my value and self-worth were tied to my success and my ability to make everything run smoothly - in our home, in my career, in my relationships - and create peace and harmony amongst an incredible amount of chaos. An uncanny reminder of my childhood. Finally, the delusions had lifted, and I could see my own habits very clearly, and I knew they were no longer sustainable. I would go on to process, uncover, and shift these habits through reprogramming parts of my subconscious through the work of To Be Magnetic. This work has absolutely changed my life and enabled me to retrieve the most authentic version of myself - the one buried deep under societal conditioning.

On Saturday, May 24th, I woke up with anxiety pulsing in my chest. I meditated and journaled and decided it was a symptom of peri menopause. I then set out for a beautiful day date of hiking with my love. It was Memorial Day weekend, and we had such sweet plans. Cole and I would enjoy some alone time while our girls spent time with friends, and the next day, we’d head to the movies with our neighbours, who we consider family.

On Saturday, May 25th, while sitting in the movie theatre beside my youngest daughter, my world would be flipped upside down. As I unzipped my purse to grab my lip balm, I could see that my phone was lighting up with texts and calls. I figured the group chat filled with my childhood best friends was extra busy tonight; something funny must have happened. But as I decided to read a few of the texts on my screen, I could also see that I had numerous missed calls. The messages I began reading weren’t funny like usual; instead, they were full of confusion and disbelief. Something was very wrong.

I took a deep breath and left the theatre, so I could figure out what was going on, and within moments received the dreaded confirmation and heartbreaking news that one of our own was gone. Our dear, beloved Michael, my soul brother since 3rd grade, had passed away the morning prior in his Los Angeles home. Shock, anger, despair, and outrage flooded my system as I tried to process the sudden loss of someone I just knew would grow old with me forever. We had been “aging like fine wine” since our mid-thirties; how could it be that our time together on this planet, in the physical, had abruptly come to an end? Maybe the anxiety I felt in my chest the morning of his passing wasn’t just a perimenopausal symptom after all, but a deep inner knowing - my wild and unpredictable intuition (a story for another day) - alerting me that a piece of my heart had crossed over to the other side.

By late June, two days before my 40th Birthday, I stood beside a priest on Long Island to give my first eulogy for my dear friend, Michael. I consoled his family members, hugged my childhood friends, and cried and laughed over all the hilarious memories we had with Mikey growing up. We were rotten teens, throwing raging house parties at Michael’s family home, mostly against his will. He was absolutely the oldest soul in our friend group and was always anxiety-ridden at our raucous and unserious ways. How lucky of us to have had him in our lives for as long as we did.

As the priest continued to speak about my eulogy and how impactful and important it was over the next day and a half, naturally, our New York-born and raised smart asses would joke about how said priest was crushing on me and how the two of us would be going on a speaking tour together soon. On my 40th birthday, just two days later, as I sobbed in bed, I would receive the best present I could ever imagine, a visit from a yellow ladybug - the first I had ever seen and no doubt a very clear sign from my Michael.

The rest of the summer and the remaining months of 2025 seem to blend together a bit. Perhaps the more significant moments include slowly wandering through the rest of the summer, with enough time to clearly understand that our daughter had been struggling with ADHD for years. Through this understanding and implementing proper support for our sweet girl, her confidence is now soaring. She often says she’s “thriving”, a vast difference from the year prior.

I’ve also made the conscious choice to show up as the most authentic version of myself after Michael’s passing, and I know that he’s guiding me. This led me to take an astrology business mentorship course that just wrapped, and begin sharing my voice publicly here on Substack and Instagram @supportedbymel, for anyone who feels drawn to my work. Soon, I’ll offer intuitive, astrology-based readings meant to support those seeking clarity and alignment in any season of life. I believe this is all part of my soul’s calling and is closely tied to this next version of myself, born from a life-changing year. I’m no longer coveting all of my unpolished, quirky, “weird” parts for my closest loved ones. I’m ready to be seen and valued exactly as I am.

Turns out, I’m still wearing a lot of hats now that I think of it. I also recently decided to be the team mom for one of our daughters’ club volleyball teams, ha! Old habits die hard. But, I do feel like I’m moving at my own pace, picking things up that feel aligned and putting down anything that feels heavy and inauthentic. I have so much more clarity and understanding of myself, my journey, and what I really want from this season of life.

2026 will be a year of momentum, strength, leadership, authenticity, courage, freedom, and flow. The year of the horse. And while that all resonates deeply with me, it will also be a year of consciously chosen surrender, self-trust, play, laughter, deep feeling, and creating for the sake of self-exploration and freedom. I’ll be following my own lead and moving through it all at my own pace, with a deep understanding that everything unfolding, the good and the challenging, is always guiding me back to the truest version of myself ✨

I wish you the very best winter break, dear friends. I may or may not post on the gram a little bit, and will most definitely be resting, reflecting, grieving, and enjoying lots of playtime, baking, and just being with my loved ones. I’m wishing you whatever your soul longs for this season and in the year to come. Xoxo Mel

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For the past few years, it seems as though time has sped up. Our chill and restful summers quickly morph into action-packed weekdays and weekends, filled with work, school, sporting activities, and spontaneous business travel for my husband. Our back-to-school schedules are demanding, and our lives move very quickly. I think it has something to do with having a tween and a teenager, or having kids in general? Either way, we’re off to the races come August and don’t have a chance to slow down until late May. While exhausting and depleting at times, this is the current season of life we’re in, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I’m learning how to best support myself and my family through the chaos of it all and find moments of stillness and restoration whenever possible. Last year, that meant spending a couple of holidays alone.

My husband, children, and I are a mixed bag of introverted and extroverted energy. We all love socializing and spending time with loved ones, and also deeply value alone time to rest and refuel. We have both fear of missing out on outings with family and friends, and FOMO on Netflix and chilling all weekend. After a full day of school and sports, my oldest daughter will often say, “I miss my bed”, and I know exactly how she feels. So last year, after an action-packed fall, we decided to forego traditional plans to attend or host an extended family Thanksgiving celebration and steal away to the beach instead, just us and our girls. While very different from years past, it was everything we needed and more.

We spent four days soaking up quality time that we often miss when we’re constantly on the go during the school year. We cooked together, played games together, walked the beach, and sobbed our eyes out while watching Wicked… Ok fine, I was the only one sobbing. But we enjoyed it so much, and all of our extended families enjoyed their holidays just the same, without us. It was perfect. So much so, we’re doing it again this year!

We’re often reminded that going against the grain and doing things differently, in order to prioritize our peace and well-being, is necessary. Before making plans or accepting invitations, I now evaluate what we have the energy for as a family, and what might feel stressful, burdensome, or overwhelming. And sometimes that means foregoing extended family traditions and figuring things out on the fly.

So, as the holidays approach, I thought it might be helpful to share this and also give you some reflective questions to think about so you can decide what season of life you’re in and how you’d really like to spend your holidays.

Reflective Questions for this Holiday Season:

1. What are the current circumstances of my life? Am I feeling energized or depleted in this season?

2. Would it feel supportive and enjoyable to host a large holiday gathering or attend one?

3. Would it feel supportive to have some quiet time to rest and restore this holiday season?

4. If there are differing opinions in my household on how we spend the holidays, is there room for compromise?

5. Do past traditions bring me stress and anxiety or ease and peace?

6. Is there anything I want to do differently this year to avoid feeling discomfort or to bring comfort around the holiday season?

7. Would it be helpful to put a yearly reminder in your phone on 10/1, let’s say, to check in with yourself and assess your energy? If so, here’s the prompt in my calendar: “Consider this season of life, when making holiday plans. What do you have energy for? What do you feel is best for your little family? Plan accordingly.”

As someone who has spent much of my life going with everyone else’s flow but my own, I want to affirm you on your unique path. It’s ok to do things differently than years past, differently than your friends or family, or what you see on social media, and honor what feels right in your life. We’re all so unique and moving through different circumstances that shift and fluctuate every season. It’s also ok to do things as you always have, and continue on with traditions past that bring you joy and happiness. It’s ok to be you, exactly as you are, and love others exactly as they are, no matter how different.

I hope this holiday season brings you much joy, peace, and comfort ♥️

Sending you my love,

Melanie

P.S. I couldn’t get my audio set up to work for some reason, so I couldn’t add audio this week. Sorry about that! Blaming it on mercury retrograde, lol.

I started drinking in 7th grade. I’ll never forget that night. My friend’s older sister, who was probably a junior in high school at the time, was throwing a house party, and they happened to live right up the block from me on Long Island. I don’t remember exactly what I drank, but it was clearly more than I could handle since I ended up vomiting into Laura’s bushes within hours. The strangest thing about that night, aside from the fact that I was barely 13 and getting absolutely sloshed, is that my best friend’s dad and my mom both showed up in one car to pick us up. Like what?!?! What are the odds that Diana’s dad stops at my house first because he doesn’t know where Laura lives, and my mom is like, “Oh, let me hop in the car and show you”? The Universe, God, Source, whatever you’d like to insert here, is so freaking funny. My friend and I, drunk off the cheap beer and liquor, were stunned and silent getting into that car, and our parents were clueless. And so it began.

I was a messy drunk. I think my body was always giving me signs that alcohol was a toxin that it would not make friends with. But for a very long time, I just didn’t care. Everyone drank alcohol; it was so widely used and accepted. It was “fun”; it made me lose my inhibitions. So from the ages of 12- 37, I drank, just like everyone else. And while I was drinking and having “fun”, I fought with every boyfriend I had, almost got sent home from the UK on tour with Nickelodeon because I had terrible alcohol poisoning, threw up in bathroom stalls at nightclubs, and made terrible decisions that put my life in danger on more than one occasion. As I entered my 30s, I was a bit more tame while drinking, but unlike my carefree youthful years, the impacts on my mental health grew worse.

My mind became scattered after a night of sipping wine. I was developing eczema on my body from the nightly beer with dinner. I was irritable and cranky with everyone in our home after a night of casual drinking. The reality was that alcohol was no longer “fun”. It was depressing my energy levels and mood, making it hard to think clearly, and screwing up my hormones. I was the worst version of myself after drinking, and I began to wonder why I had ever thought it was such a great idea to begin with. As I sat in silence with myself, most mornings, I began hearing my own inner voice more clearly, the voice that told me that alcohol was not beneficial to my mind, body, or spirit, and that it was safe to be different, to not conform to a society that deems alcohol as normal and necessary for socializing. So the “popular” girl did the unpopular thing and began the downward descent of my journey with alcohol.

For a short while, I wished I could just be like everyone else and that my body and mind weren’t as sensitive as they are. I wished I could have a glass of wine at dinner or a celebratory drink with friends and not feel regret for the spike in my anxiety or the short temper with my children. But as time passed, and my mind felt clear, the internal calm and peace flowing through me became addictive, and thoughts of disrupting my wellbeing for instant gratification became less and less. I sampled nootropic beverages like Kin Euphorics and Recess Mood, and enjoyed the creative process of mixing up new mocktails I found on Pinterest. Nowadays, it seems a sober-curious lifestyle and mindful approach to alcohol use are more mainstream, and I’m here for it.

A life without alcohol has become my new norm, and it is a fine life, indeed. I don’t consider myself sober. I think that labels confine us and place us in boxes that we’re tempted to escape from. It just turns out that my life, without alcohol, is a much happier one, so there is zero desire to repeat the past. But change is definitely hard, especially when it challenges the norm and goes against the grain. It’s up to us to quiet the external noise and listen to our bodies and minds. Our symptoms and mental state are our greatest messengers.

I hope I’m teaching my daughters to question groupthink mentality and that activism comes in many forms. Sometimes it’s loud, like protesting in the streets, lobbying, or pursuing a career centered on human rights, but sometimes it’s quiet. And it looks like trusting our inner knowing as women, breaking ancestral patterns, and healing ourselves so that we may heal our little world around us.

Here are some resources that I found helpful on my journey :

Quit Like A Woman by Holly Whitaker (a bit of an intense read but full of truth)

Journey to the Heart by Melody Beattle (daily heartfelt words to bring comfort and peace)

Recess Mood (non alcoholic, relaxing beverages that can be found at Target and most grocery stores, and are so good!)

Thank you for reading!

Sending you my love,

Melanie

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Hello! I decided to create a free-style audio post this week instead of writing, and I hope you enjoy it! I’m sharing some insight and wisdom on boundary setting: why it has always been a challenge for me, and how I find peace with it nowadays. I hope you’ll find it all helpful. If so, please share with a friend and don’t forget to subscribe below so you can receive weekly posts, like this, in your email. Wishing you a peaceful day ahead! Xo Mel

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I was tempted not to write today. I woke up at 3:45 this morning to use the restroom and, unfortunately, never fell back asleep. This is my new sleep schedule, some nights/mornings, and I’m definitely having a hard time accepting it. As I somberly packed lunches alongside my jovial husband, my teen daughter bluntly asked, “Why do you look so sad?” To which I responded, “Because I’m in peri-menopause and slept like crap”. To which she said, “Ohhh,” and casually continued her FaceTime call with her bestie. She’s no stranger to the term perimenopause. I often advise her to have compassion for her middle-aged teachers, as they, too, are probably experiencing symptoms. She scoffs but understands that just as she is navigating the wild world of hormonal fluctuations as a teen, I am on my own ride as my hormones decline, as are all women around my age, or will be at some point. A mutual understanding of sorts.

I turned 40 in June, and my gift to myself was scheduling an appointment with a Menopause Society-certified provider in my area. She is an OB-GYN within my local healthcare system, thankfully, and in network with my insurance. The anticipation and excitement I feel to visit her for the first time this November is palpable.

I imagine some of you are thinking, “40? She’s too young for this”. It’s exactly what my primary care physician told me last December and the summer before that, when I told her I thought I was in perimenopause. It’s also what I’ve told my sisters on several phone calls over the past couple of years. I think my exact words have been “I’m too young for this sh*t”. But alas, the symptoms I’m experiencing and the research I’ve done prove very differently.

According to the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN), black, Latina, and Asian women, on average, tend to enter perimenopause and menopause earlier than their white peers. As a Latina, with a history of family members experiencing perimenopause and menopause in their early to mid forties, this resonates. I also had bloodwork done and compared my numbers to Joi Wellness’ optimal hormone ranges, and found that some of my numbers definitely aren’t optimal.

For anyone that might not know, perimenopause is the 8-10 year period of hormonal fluctuation and decline, eventually leading to menopause, the phase of a woman’s life when menstruation has fully ceased. During this time, women may experience a slew of uncomfortable symptoms that include but are not limited to insomnia, weight gain, heart palpitations, mood swings, libido decline, lack of energy and motivation, muscle deterioration… I have encountered all of the above, and let’s just say, some days are more pleasant than others.

The great news is that more and more research is being done on women’s health, perimenopause, and menopause, and more and more books, podcasts, and healthcare professionals are discussing these topics openly. There are both natural supports and treatment options available, like hormone replacement therapy (HRT), that have been proven to improve symptoms and health quality in midlife and beyond.

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Health has always been a passion of mine, especially integrative nutrition, which evaluates an individual based on a holistic mind, body, and spirit approach.

In that vein, I wanted to share the most supportive things I’ve done for myself on this journey thus far, in hopes that they help you:

1. Nutrition and Food: I eliminate gluten, dairy, and refined sugar, most days, especially during the Luteal phase of my cycle. I highly recommend the book In The Flo by Alissa Vitti for all menstruating females. This book helped me understand the rhythm of my monthly cycle and what foods and activities might exacerbate discomfort. I also do not drink alcohol, and haven’t for several years, and I’ll share more on this in the future.

2. Mindfulness Meditation: Meditation has absolutely changed my life. I was once a high-strung, anxious, and reactive human. Friends that I’ve made in the last 5 years cannot believe this about me, but my OGs from New York and husband knew that version of me well. Meditation has literally rewired my brain (also known as neuroplasticity). If you don’t believe me, please research the benefits of meditation. I’ve been meditating consistently for about 7 years. My practice began with the Calm app and evolves daily. Even during this phase of perimenopause, more often than not, I can witness my many moods and emotions, feel them, and allow them to pass, without getting consumed by them. It has made everything in my life easier.

3. Exercise Shifts: I sync my workouts to my cycle and the seasons we’re in. For example, during the luteal phase, or the two weeks leading up to my period, I slow down my movements and include pilates, yoga, and walking. While on my period, I rest or enjoy casual walks and restorative yoga. During my follicular and ovulatory phases, I increase intensity and include strength training and cardio. I also believe this has helped keep my cortisol level within a healthy range and avoid excessive weight gain. A few years ago, I realized I was putting on weight and experiencing muscle atrophy while doing excessive cardio, so I had to reevaluate and readjust. Again, the book In the Flo by Alissa Vitti was very helpful.

4. Seed Cycling: Have you heard of this? It’s when you consume certain seeds during different menstrual cycle phases, throughout the month, to balance hormones. Menstrual Phase = pumpkin seeds, Follicular + Ovulatory Phases = pumpkin + flax seeds, Luteal Phase = flax seeds + sesame seeds

5. Supplements: I take 240mg of Pure Encapsulations Magnesium Glycinate before bed every night, and B Complex, Vitamin D3k2, Omega-3, Boron, and Just Ingredients’ Perimenopause Support after lunch each day. I tried DHEA, but it made me feel like I was high, and not in a good way, so I discontinued use.

6. Unburdening myself of unnecessary stressors: Have you ever watched the hit series Scandal? I once referred to myself as the Olivia Pope of my family growing up. Thanks to therapy and all the healing work I’ve done over the years, I have happily resigned from the role of Mendez Family Crisis Manager. These days, I mind my own business and screen calls and texts based on how much energy I have left to give. It’s been very freeing and has had such a positive impact on my mental health. I’ve also shifted my career goals based on my stress tolerance level. Stress has such a profound impact on our overall health and hormones. In my opinion, no amount of money is worth the cost of dis-ease.

7. Buddhist Philosophy: After completing a mindfulness meditation training with The Path, based on Buddhist fundamentals, I found myself drawn to learn more and find others who practice Buddhism in my area. Principles like non-attachment, compassion, karma, and impermanence have changed my mind and heart forever and make all suffering more bearable, including perimenopause.

8. Open Communication: Speaking candidly about this phase of life to family and friends has created awareness, understanding, and compassion.

9. Rest has become a priority, not a luxury. The more well-rested I am, the better I can function and serve my loved ones.

10. Self Advocacy: If I had taken my primary care physician’s word for it and not done my own research, I would not be as resourced or informed on the changes I’ve been experiencing for the last 3-4 years. I am so excited to see my new provider come November, and am very excited and hopeful to begin BHRT, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. I believe this is the best next step for me on my health journey and feel confident that the research I’ve done supports that. More to come on BHRT in the future.

Here are the resources I’ve found helpful in my research:

Book Recommendations:

In the Flo by Alissa Vitti

The Menopause Moment by Dr.Kelly Casperson

Perimenopause Power by Maisie Hill

Podcasts:

You Are Not Broken by Dr. Kelly Casperson

The Dr. Louise Newsome Podcast

Apps:

Calm

Balance by Dr. Louise Newsome

Facebook Groups:

Wake Her Up

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT, HRT) Ongoing Support

One thing is for sure: perimenopause and menopause will impact all women at some point in midlife; it is the great equalizer, and there is comfort in solidarity. I’m an open book about most things and would be happy to continue the conversation if you so desire. Feel free to comment below or send me an email or message on Instagram. And if you found this helpful, please consider sharing it with someone who might benefit. Wishing you much peace, health, and ease on your journey.

With love,

Melanie

After a pretty intense eclipse season, we find ourselves in cozy autumn, marked by Monday’s fall equinox and the start of Libra season. We will remain in this beautiful, harmonious astrological season and energy until October 22nd. Happy Birthday to all the magical and kind-hearted Libras of the world, including my own little one, who will turn 12 this weekend! While some of us do not have Libra as our sun sign (or zodiac sign), we still have the ability to work with this energy all month long and use it to our advantage.

Libras favor peace, justice, and balance. They find joy and pleasure in beautiful aesthetics, cozy comforts, coherent partnerships, and being around those they adore. My Libra girl loves a good romance - as a little girl, she would watch me and my husband exchange little kisses in our kitchen and say “do it again”, and then give us a big hug. She is sweetness and love and sugar and spice, basically fall, in human form. With an abundance of this energy swirling about through the end of October, we may all want to lean in and romanticize our lives a little bit. I find that when I work with the astrological energy of each season, my life flows with greater ease.

Along with all the wonderful assets that Libras and Libra season are privy to, there are also sticky points that may resonate and present opportunities for growth over the next month. Because of Libra’s strong propensity towards fairness and peace, they may have the desire to please everyone, sometimes to their own detriment. They may silence their instincts in an effort to prevent conflict and face indecision. If challenges present themselves to you over this season, you may want to check in and see if any of these themes are present in your own life and adjust accordingly.

Just this past week, I was chatting with a new mom friend at my daughter’s volleyball game. The topic of career came up as we talked about her son’s first year in college. She asked what I studied in college, and I shared that I went to school for musical theatre, but that my career as an actor has had many iterations since, most recently narrating audiobooks for the past several years and voice acting. I also told her that I’d taken a break this summer to reevaluate and am currently taking a course to become an astrologer, as it’s another passion of mine. I guess I have this limiting belief or perception that since a career in astrology isn’t so mainstream, others will judge me or think I’m strange if I share that part of myself with them. And they might, which I’m learning I’m ok with. But in this case, the opposite happened. She told me she loves astrology too, and I was elated! In that moment, I decided to counter my own Libra moon**, people-pleasing tendencies, and share myself authentically. And because of that, we were able to connect on a new level and show up as truer versions of ourselves. My first gift and opportunity for growth this Libra season.

**A note on the above: you probably know your sun sign (zodiac sign), but you may not know that we all have a “big 3” in astrology, which comprises our sun, moon, and rising signs. These signs are strongly reflected in our personalities, and might be why you don’t always resonate with your sun sign. My moon sign, which governs emotions, happens to be Libra. My sun sign is Cancer, and my rising sign, or sign that we are thought to be rising or growing into, is Gemini. Therefore, I strongly relate to all three of these signs, not just my Cancer sun.

Over these next few days and weeks, here are some journal prompts you may reflect on to utilize this Libra season energy to your advantage. Enjoy to the fullest!

Journal Prompts for Libra Season:

1. How can I bring more joy, laughter, and beauty into my life this season?

2. In what ways can I romanticize my life? Examples: savoring a tasty fall drink while watching a cooking show on a cozy Sunday morning (ok hi it’s me, that’s what I’ll be doing), scheduling a date night with your partner or simply on your own, enjoying a hike or drive to take in the beautiful fall foliage, starting a new romance novel or romcom… if you need more examples, please send me a message as I’m an expert on romanticizing anything and everything.

3. How can I create more balance and harmony in my partnerships? Do the scales need adjusting? Where might I be over-giving or over-compensating for the sake of peace?

4. Where might I be silencing my inner voice or instincts to please others?

I hope you found this helpful. If so, please consider sharing it with someone you think might benefit. Wishing you a beautiful fall and Libra season.

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With love,

Melanie

I’m tired, are you? We currently sit in the midst of eclipse season. You may have noticed an intensity in the air on both a global and personal level. We experienced a total lunar eclipse in the sign of Pisces just this past Sunday, September 7th, and Monday, September 8th, and will experience a partial solar eclipse in the sign of Virgo on Sunday, September 21st. Eclipse seasons can be great times of revelation and transformation, and fast-track opportunities for growth. They can also be quite exhausting.

I tend to feel the energy of eclipse season about a month prior to the cosmic event, and you might as well. Can you zoom out and take stock of any major events or realizations that may have presented themselves in early August and that you’re currently experiencing? For me personally, I’ve been navigating themes related to home life as well as my career - neurodivergence in our family, back to school and sports routines, busyness, eclipsing out work that no longer suits mine and my family’s needs, eclipsing in the start of this newsletter, and stepping into a more aligned version of myself. It’s been intense and full and challenging at times, and if you’ve been feeling the same way, you’re in good company. The great news is that this season is impermanent, and by the end of September or the start of October, we should all be feeling a sense of relief.

By Tuesday of this week, I could swear it was already Friday; wishful thinking. I took myself on a walk to get some fresh air, clear my mind, and hopefully reinvigorate myself. As I witnessed my own thoughts of lack for not having the same amount of energy and vitality that I had just a day prior, I realized what I needed most wasn’t more strength to power through this week (I mean that would be amazing but I knew I wasn’t going to get that), it was more self compassion and the awareness of my current reality - our weekend had been busier with more social events than usual, my body was healing from the onset of a head cold, my husband was getting ready to take off on a business trip, there were three volleyball games on the calendar for one daughter, and two rec practices for the other, a curriculum night at the middle school, I would be volunteering with my local Sangha (Buddhist meditation community). There was and is so much on my plate in this season, and I know I’m not the only one.

So today, I offer you a simple meditation for self-compassion, and the hope that instead of wishing you were stronger, faster, and more equipped for it all, you will be kinder and gentler with yourself and others. As humans, we all collectively struggle in some way, sometimes. I believe we’re all doing our best in any given moment, navigating the highs and lows of this life, and thankfully, this season won’t last forever. May you be happy, may you be healthy, and may your minds be filled with ease.

Sending you all my love,

Melanie

A Meditation for Self-Compassion

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Last April, my husband and I found ourselves in a tense and necessary conversation about the current season of life we were in. We had just gotten home from our dreamy beach condo, and the reality of returning to work, school, and a travel club volleyball season for our oldest daughter was setting in. I’ve been the primary caretaker of our children throughout our marriage, while my husband has been the primary financial provider. However, I had also built an evolving career as a performing artist alongside him - a career that would ebb and flow with the ever-shifting demands of motherhood, his business travels, and whatever else life threw our way. And my husband has always been a very present and involved father, sharing the role of parenthood as much as possible while enduring long hours in the office. But to be honest, we were tired. We both needed and wanted more support than either of us had left to give. What we were building was no longer sustainable.

I had been intuiting a career pause since the new year - I follow astrology pretty closely and knew that there was a particular upcoming transit that would support that shift. (I’ll share more about astrology later, as it has been a very helpful tool in my spiritual toolbox). But with big shifts come big fears, doubts, and insecurities, and I was feeling all of them. Would stepping away from the career I had built for the past 20 years leave me feeling unfulfilled or resentful? How would that decision impact our children, our marriage, our finances, and the quality of our lives? My husband had the same questions as I did, but after an in-depth conversation and a visit to our marriage counselor, it was very clear that focusing on my role as a mother, wife, and caretaker was necessary, and I was being led down a new path. One I was ready for.

We reconfigured our budget and re-delegated our responsibilities. For the first time ever, I would not be concerned with “working” or contributing financially. I could take the self-imposed pressure off my shoulders to do it all, and just be present with what was right in front of me - a luxury I do not take for granted. Our new budget would teach our daughters fiscal responsibility and curb some of their cravings for instant gratification. I would fully step into the role of stay-at-home mother and full-time calendar keeper/Uber for our very busy children ;) These profound shifts made way for a lovely and slow summer. Less travel, more stability, less materialism, more everyday experiences. I also had the time and energy to enjoy a wonderful workshop called The Authenticity Challenge by Lacy Philips, of To Be Magnetic, with a very dear soul sister of mine. This experience would shift my understanding of myself, my values, and the life I really wanted to manifest as I turned 40 - a simpler and slower, more peaceful, and gentler one.

Perhaps the most valuable lesson of all to come from a much slower spring and summer is that when life is moving so fast, it is easy to miss the things that most need our tending to. It’s easy to get swept away in the momentum of it all and become more easily distracted. As I slowed down my attention and spent much-needed quality time with one of my daughters (who is typically on the go nonstop), I was able to very clearly understand a struggle she had been masking and carrying so heavily on her shoulders for years. By early August, we had a new ADHD diagnosis to tend to and the realization that my daughter’s unique brain likely isn’t the only one in our household. There is so much to learn and gain from this newfound realization. My heart has grown with more compassion and love for our differences, more patience, and understanding.

As I took audiobook narration off my plate, I created space to fully support my family and myself with more ease. I gifted myself the ability to reevaluate my needs, our needs, and how I want to spend my time and energy. I also created space to fully acknowledge and tend to this dream that has been brewing in the notes app of my phone for well over a year - the development of a peaceful place on the internet meant to support others on their journeys. A place where I can share guided meditations, stories like this one, and resources to cultivate a sweeter and more joyful life. A business meant to evolve and shift and move as slowly as I need it to while I continue to prioritize my children, my husband, my family, and our well-being. I love and enjoy performing, and I’m sure I will continue to narrate and voice various projects when the time allows, but for now, this feels most authentic to me, and I’m rolling with it.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I’d love to hear from you if this resonates with you. I will also include a simple guided meditation below to help you slow down your mind and tap into your needs at the present moment.

Here are links to resources that helped me process and navigate my career pause:

The Power Pause, by Neha Ruch (book)

The Authenticity Challenge (a workshop for great clarity)

With love,

Melanie

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