Greetings from my magical writing lab,

It’s Thursday, March 26 at 12:30pm PT.

Join me now for 60-90 minutes or whenever you find this to jumpstart your writing today – link below

I’m on Zoom transcribing my novel. I won’t be talking much. If you want focus and company while writing, let’s go.

At the end of the hour, we might chat a bit to share what we got done. That’s totally optional.

Click here to join.

Cucalacas!

Greetings from #CampFTC,

Looking for some magical distraction? Watch and listen to me read Chapter 1 of The Amazing Adventures of Selma Calderon:

Stay tuned to my Instagram account where I’ll keep you posted on my next chapter reading.

I have a lot of fun resources for you this week and in case you missed last week’s edition, do check out some of the nourishing resources here.

I hope you’ll join me at #CampFTC by using the hashtag to share creative ideas on staying home for those with non-essential jobs, as well as going out into nature for a breath of fresh air. I also want to acknowledge small business owners who are doing what they can to stay in business and to stay careful during this difficult time. If you’re wondering what FTC stands for, it’s Flatten the Curve. You can read Flattening a Pandemic’s Curve: Why Staying Home can Save Lives and this message from concerned physicians to gain a deeper understanding into the importance of our collective choices. These articles are particularly helpful for individuals who are still in denial about the pandemic. We have a chance to significantly slow down the community spread. And if nothing else, this interview with Michael Osterholm, an internationally recognized expert on infectious disease epidemiology will give you the scientific details needed to convince anyone who is doubting the value of social distancing and washing hands as demonstrated in this video.

And most of all here is a List of Personal Things You Can Do to Stay Well.

So let us all know what you are doing with the hashtag #CampFTC — no idea is too small:

1. Organizing your spice rack
2. Dance alone in the living room
3. Dress your cat in fine attire
4. Cook something you’ve never tried before
5. Write a poem
6. Use the telephone to have a live conversation with someone
7. Sing at the top of your lungs
8. Hike in nature

Here are this week’s resources:

1. What’s your one truest dream? This and many more questions are asked in Marie Forleo’s interview of Glennon Doyle Melton regarding her new book, Untamed.

2. Inspiration from Sir Isaac Newton – he was homebound for a similar reason and guess what he did.

3. Armchair exploration – Here’s a link to virtual tours at museums around the world. And here are virtual field trips. And you can enjoy an epic 12-hour mix charting the history of spiritual jazz here.

4. The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker – how can we take the approaches by Parker and apply them to a virtual space? Let’s get creative! You can listen to a wonderful podcast interview with her, titled “Gathering as a Form of Leadership” here and here. Or look on your favorite podcast app and search for the Sounds True podcast to find it.

There’s always more to share, but for now, I invite you to stay close to home, let’s bring our globe back to a level of health and think most about those with compromised immune systems. 

Here’s how you can help:

1. Share the resources in this post.
2. Create anything.
3. Sleep and rest as much as possible.
4. LAUGH LAUGH LAUGH.
5. Try to stay nourished with nutrient-rich foods.
6. Practice social distancing (6 feet or more between people), stay home and get out in nature — and wash your hands thoroughly.

And remember, look for the magic in the everyday — there are STILL clues everywhere.

Hello Hungry Hungry People,

We are hungry for food, hugs, love, naps and why not be hungry for inspiration? I’m hoping that this week’s edition of Rebecca’s Magical Mondays fills up your hearts, bellies and minds.

I’ve fallen into a big rabbit hole following Samin Nosrat, author of Salt Fat Acid Heat thanks to an unexpected delightful stop on the way home from the Nahko and Medicine for the People concert at Plenty on Bell in Los Alamos, CA where I had a delicious pulled pork sandwich, perfectly strong iced tea (and I’m picky about that) and THE BEST peanut butter cookies of my entire life — think nutter butter for adults! Photos are below.

And amazing news! You are invited to a monthly mastermind that I’m co-facilitating with Ho’omalalama Brown of WholisticFit.com — our next online gathering is Saturday, March 21st at 11am Pacific Time. (You can calculate your time zone here.) She is an amazing and inspiring multi-passionate entrepreneur who always brings new, creative and practical resources as well as deep roots in Hawaiian culture.

Here’s how it works: a group of entrepreneurs, writers, artists and creatives gather online for 90 minutes. During the first 20 minutes, we state our goals for the session. Then we stay online together and at least start on those goals, then come back for the last 25 minutes and share what we accomplished. We get feedback and ideas from the facilitators and participants if we need help solving for something or advice on next steps. It has been so motivating for me. And get this: you can drop in monthly for only $20. You can click on my PayPal link or Venmo if you would like to join us! It is so energizing to know that I can count on a monthly gathering to kick start me to get that project done–be it transcribing my novel, crafting a production schedule, revisiting and getting clear on my goals or organize my finances.

Here are this week’s resources:

A. Samin Nosrat interviews I love: For simplicity’s sake, I’ve shared links that work no matter your device, but you can find these interviews on your favorite podcast app:

1. How to Fail with Elizabeth Day
2. Keep Calm and Cook On with Julia Turshen

These are two of my favorites–but I’ve listened to at least six interviews because I am a complete Salt Fat Acid Heat nerd.

B. Alexis Saloutos of Chakredy is offering a free webinar on March 11 at 11am PT on Energetic Grounding for Collective Anxiety. I like the way Alexis shows up in the world and believe that she will offer helpful approaches to navigating these times.

C.  Booklists at Social Justice Books – A Teaching for Change Project – Explore!

I hope you explore this! I loved learning about all of the American Indians in Children’s Literature books. In case you didn’t know it, since the publication of The Amazing Adventures of Selma Calderon in 2015, I have donated 5% of all net profits to Teaching for Change.

D. Slow Food – Plant a Seed Kit – I thought that if you haven’t already explored Slow Food, you might like to learn more about it. Either way, their plant a seed kit is just the hope some of us need right now. The links provided are for the U.S. but there are Slow Food groups all over the world.

Here’s how you can help this week:

1. Cook something delicious! Check out the resources connected to Salt Fat Acid Heat to explore a new approach if you already cook or try something new if you are a novice in the kitchen.
2. Tell someone about the chance to join our monthly mastermind by sharing this post.
3. Explore the booklists above — they cover everything from Activism to Gender Identity to Arab Americans to Voting Rights!
4. Deep breaths this week loveys. Here’s a quick video of me at the beach. And in case you need more ocean sounds, I recorded this 10-minute Ocean Meditation.

And remember, look for magic in the everyday. There are clues everywhere!

Do you still need to get organized for your taxes? Do you have another project hanging over your head?
A huge part of my success (and happiness) is thanks to #smallincrementalsteps in everything I do.

You can join me on Saturday, March 7 at 11am Pacific Time via Zoom and get your stuff done. I will be hanging out for 90 minutes. I will get us grounded, pull cards and then off we go to get our stuff done.

Pay what you can and enjoy that feeling of making progress or completing the thing you keep saying you are going to do.
No recording. Just a live hangout.
Pay via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/RebeccaVillarreal
Or Via Venmo @Rebecca-Villarreal-Author

I hope to see you there!

Next hangout – writing!

And you can be sure this week’s Magical Monday is FULL of inspiring joy!

#mysticathlete #cucalacas #workingwriter

PS: This is my nourished, happy smirk sitting in the sun after completing some major tasks on my list and rewarding myself with a gorgeous break.

Big news! I learned to fly. They gave me waffle wings. And with those powerful new wings, I’m taking you back in time with some of my most helpful blog posts. Here goes:

1. Shine the Pot: When to Let Go of Friends and Family

2. You are Asking Me to Swallow the Sun…

3. Erasing Big Mistakes, Watering the Seeds, Naming Your Own Matilda

How you can help:

A. Rest

B. Rest

C. Rest

Look for the magic in the everyday — there are clues everywhere!

Hello Beautiful People!

Are you hungry? I hope so because you are getting a hands-on demonstration video on how to make chilaquiles! My husband agreed to share his special recipe from page 12 of my novel, The Amazing Adventures of Selma Calderón. He even gives you tips on picking the best avocados.

Here are the ingredients:

All measurements are approximate based upon the quantity in the demo video.

4 Eggs

Tortilla Chips

Mild Olive Oil

Tomato Sauce (8 oz)

3 chipotle peppers (canned + seeds removed)

salt and pepper

Serve with avocado plus optional cotija cheese + cilantro

I hope you enjoy the video! If you make them, please tag me on Facebook or Instagram. We would love to see your photos!

Onward to this week’s resources:

1. Chef Magic + Human Condition: Award-Winning Chef, Samin Nosrat is the author of Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking who experienced another level of fame with her Netflix specialof the same title.  Here’s a beautiful New Yorker interview titled, “I fail almost every day”  that touches upon many aspects of her life, including living in the in-between.
2. Music: Wash it Away – I stood in the ocean listening to this powerful song. I urge you to give yourself this gift by Nahko + Medicine for the People. I have so many favorite lines. Among them, “Today is a good day for my ego to die.” I am SO EXCITED about seeing him in concert next month!  Also, check out Garden and Slow Down too. And I’ve shared it before, but I’ll share Dragonfly again because it kept me going during one of the most difficult times of my life.

3. On Women: This article titled: Matriarchies are Not Just a Reversal of Patriarchies is a deep analysis of what happens when women rule.

4. Change Your Pants, Change Your Life was the original title of this TEDx talk which is now called “Dressing for Confidence and Joy” — really though, it’s about this idea of inside out congruence. How do your insides match your outsides? It’s touching, funny and practical. Check out Stasia Savasuk’s take on life–it’s delightful.

5. Hair and Identity: I was thrilled to see Christin Brown featured in a recent issue of Forbes. She and her wife own the LunaBella Makeup and Hair salon. I met Chris and her wife Ashley at their other AMAZING business, Pura Luna Women’s Apothecary — which by the way, ships amazing her teas and so much more. They provide a vital home and sense of community to many of us. I’m inspired by their work, their leadership and general bad-a**ery when it comes to being bosses.

What you can do to help:

1. Share, baby, share this post. People NEED chilaquiles, right?!
2. Make chilaquiles!
3. Make a new moon intention — go ahead WISH for something beautiful no matter when you read this.
4. Let yourself feel the feelings this week. I’m learning more about what’s up energetically and folks keep telling me, it’s Pisces, on top of Pisces, on top of Pisces. And I’m all, “tell me what that means.” And from what I can tell, we take that watery energy and feel the feels. Cry if you need to cry–pay attention to what comes up, experience it and then let go and be cleansed. My riff on all of this. April Elliot Kent of Big Sky Astrology has a great post called, “Pisces New Moon: Surviving Quicksand.” There are many more experts out there like, Dr. M. Ruth McKants, Karen M. Rose, Kari Samuels, Vanessa Couto and Alex Myles.

And remember, find magic in the everyday! There are clues everwhere! For real.

Check out this video invitation!

Love, love, love people! We are ready for this week…I promise you! And you are invited to join me for a virtual Valentine’s Day *lunch*– I want to celebrate with you!

Here’s the plan:

When: Friday, February 14, 10am-11am PT – Recording available too in case you can’t make it live! (Check out the time zone converter to calculate your local time zone.)

Where: Zoom – link + phone number emailed to you upon registration.

What: Virtual Valentine’s Celebration – lunch, tea, dinner or snack depending upon your time zone – there will be a recording that you can watch at your leisure! The basics are: I will ground us, pull oracle cards, do a poetry reading and circle us with some gorgeous love intentions and share some of the ways I keep self-love going in these times.

Why: I want to bring some extra special magic and love to your Valentine’s Day! Check out the video to learn more.

Register: Send $14 payable via Venmo or PayPal – make sure to add your email in the notes section with your payment. You can even gift the experience to a loved one!

And here are some magical Monday resources for the week:

A. Music: Become a Mountain by Dan Deacon is my heart’s song this week. My brother sent it to me and I listened at sunset while walking the dog. I found myself sobbing with joy at the beauty of the world. I love the crescendo at the 2:36 mark. Do yourself a favor and listen.

B. Movement: I love the “Natural Movement” movement! Here’s a recent blog post you might enjoy.  I’m also a fan of Petra Fisher’s Movement Revolution newsletter and Instagram. Check out her blog for some excellent articles. I encourage you to sign up for her newsletter. Her last one featured “9 Paths to Healthy Natural Movement”:

1. Walk every day – bodies need to walk. Period. It’s the bread and butter. If you don’t have posterior push off, work on walking technique but still walk. In minimal shoes.

2. Squat every day – Squatting is not optional. If you don’t have a full squat, spend your time on squat prep.

3. Hang every day – Just like walking and squatting1 Hanging is a key movement nutrient. Use as many shoulder prep exercises and modifications as you need to build strength – these count too.

4. Transition to minimal shoes – modern shoes mess up your feet and the rest of your body. If you do nothing else do this.

5. Use less furniture – more movement, no extra time needed. This is a no brainer as far as I’m concerned.

6. Improve your alignment – how you move matters and how you move all day long matters the most. This is like weight lifting technique for real life.

7. Mobilize your joints – Mobility makes everything better. You’ll squat, walk and hang better, alignment will be easier, your joints will be stronger, your balance will be better.

8. Exercise outside the gym – Packing in mini-bouts of exercise and movement will feed your cells the movement they need.

9. Learn to release tension – Most of us are great at creating tension and terrible at releasing it. That’s super not cool. Releasing is a movement skill and you need it.

C.  Refeeding Symptoms Podcast Episode: Caroline Dooner, author of the F*ck It Diet interviews Anna Sweeney, MS, CEDRD-S, who specializes in eating disorder recovery, Health at Every Size and Intuitive Eating. She shares her own experience living with chronic illness and navigating wellness culture. This interview is especially poignant if you’ve ever found yourself restricting your food in any way. I raise my hand having tried Weight Watchers, Paleo, Whole 30–you name it. I’ve finally come to the point of eating what my body needs and wants.  I am happy and have tons of extra energy because I’m not spending it obsessing over what’s on my plate. Now clearly you know I still LOVE whole foods and think that eating what comes from the earth is our best bet and still, we can indulge and enjoy–food allergies not withstanding. Refeeding is a concept that’s new to me–it’s our body’s adjustment to trying foods that we cut out previously. You can listen to this episode on Stitcher and iTunes. (And to quote Caroline, “This podcast is exceedingly casual & I spend a good amount of episodes having conversations with my dog. You have been warned.”)

I do hope you’ll join me on February 14th! And if you can’t and you sign up, you’ll get the recording!

Here’s how you can help:

1. Share this blog post with someone who might want or need company on Valentine’s Day!
2. Move your body and try one of Petra’s approaches above.
3. Write yourself a love note. It is simple–pick 1-3 things about you that you love. If this is hard, take a look at yourself as a child (even in your mind’s eye) and remember something delightful–what you played, ate or sang. The note can be a letter, a post-it or even tapped out on your phone. Trust me, this exercise is as comforting as a cup of hot chocolate.

Much love and remember, Find Magic in the everyday, there are clues everywhere!

Welcome one and all to the land of unconditional love — to your heart and mine! I made you a 2-minute video in Carmel-by-the-Sea!

Here is to your week of beauty:

1. One of my favorite poets: Terry Spencer Edwards – read two poems here.

2. One of my favorite books: Zahrah the Windseeker – Nnedi Okorafor. A lovely podcast interview by Yin Change of 88 Cups of Tea is here.

3. Shaman Durek speaks unconditional love here in a great DENtalks LIVE podcast – stick with it – trust me. For more on Shaman Durek, check out his site.

Bring your light into this moment and know, the world is better because you are in it.

Here’s how you can help:

1. Write the words: I love you in a text, on a piece of paper, with sidewalk chalk out in the world.

2. Delight in the delicious: indulge in something you love.

3. Read a poem!

And remember: Find magic in the everyday. There are clues everywhere!