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Finding Magic When You're in a Funk

11/15/2025

When we got home from our 2½-week trip to Colombia, I fell into a bit of a funk. The first couple of days were dark and stormy, the country is still going through so much turmoil, and out of nowhere my left arm started hurting (before the trip it had been my right—go figure). We’d just come off a week-long ayahuasca retreat, and I was still wrapped in that deep introspection and spiritual work. Shifting back into everyday routines always takes a minute, and honestly, daily minutia can feel painfully mundane after soul-level experiences.

On Wednesday morning, I led my guided meditation for the TFC Mindful Meditation group. Before we began, I pulled a card from the Crystal Ally deck for inspiration. The theme that came up was Magic—labradorite. So I wove the meditation around that… the magic of being alive, synchronicities, messages and signs that feel straight from Spirit, sacred connections, miracles, manifesting, and those moments when someone calls you right as you’re thinking of them.

And right after the meditation ended, I checked my phone and saw a message from someone I hadn’t spoken to in 43 years. Back in 1982, I took a trip to Canyon de Chelly on the Navajo Nation with two girlfriends from my job at the Grand Canyon Caverns. During that visit, we were initiated into the Navajo family we stayed with—an experience I’ve carried with me all my life. And the message was from one of those women. She had saved a letter I wrote to her after leaving that job and returning to New York when I was 21… and she sent me a photo of it.

It completely lifted my spirits. It was pure magic—like the Universe tapping me on the shoulder, reminding me that wonder is everywhere if we’re willing to see it.

So if you ever find yourself in a funk, try a little meditation—guided or self-guided—centered on how magical life truly is. Notice the small wonders: flowers, animals, breathtaking landscapes, delicious food, the people who love you, the validations and signs that Spirit places in your path. Let yourself feel gratitude for those moments… and then see what unfolds next.

Photo was taken by me during the ayahuasca retreat. Feel free to join my FB TFC Mindful Meditation group if you'd like!

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The Moondays Membership is Opening Again!

9/21/2025

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Sisters,

The doors to Moondays Membership are opening again—and I’d love for you to step inside.
For years, I’ve held the vision of a sacred container where women could come together in support, magic, and transformation. With Moondays, that vision has taken root—and it’s growing beautifully.
From September 29–October 4, new women are invited to join us and experience the power of sisterhood in action. Membership will open back up on January 5, 2026!

This isn’t a polished, distant program—it’s a living, breathing community. We gather, create, celebrate, and rise together. And with every woman who joins, the circle deepens.

✨ Membership is just $22/month
What You’ll Receive Inside Moondays

Simple, soulful practices to support your growth, joy, and impact
Monthly gatherings (in-person and online) like:
- Red Tents
- New Moon Circles
- Full Moon Celebration Check-Ins
- Inspire Sessions (creative get-togethers)
- Movie Nights, Goddess Swims, Workshops, Field Trips and more!
A supportive sisterhood of conscious women
Deep connections through our membership platform (off social media!)
A membership directory to help you find sisters with shared interests
Pair-ups twice a month for intentional connection and friendship
A structure rooted in the cycles of our lives, the moon, the seasons, and the chakras
The joy of knowing 10% of all membership fees support non-profits uplifting women

Not local? No problem! With half of our events online, you can still join the circle and connect with sisters from anywhere.

Moondays is for women ready to say yes to themselves and yes to sisterhood. Together, we grow stronger, braver, more authentic and fulfilled.
The circle is calling. Will you answer?

With love and fire,
Susan

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Moondays Membership

6/7/2025

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Sisters,
I’ve got something special brewing—and you’re one of the first to hear about it.
For years, I’ve envisioned a sacred space where women could come together to support one another, grow personally, and rise as a collective force for change. Originally, I thought of it as a physical space. It still might be. But for now, I realize that we can create a container in the form of a membership, a community rooted in connection, adventure, magic and transformation.
But before I open the doors wide, I’m inviting a small circle of Founding Members to help shape the membership from the ground up.

As a Founding Member, you’ll:

Get early access to everything we’re building
Be part of shaping the direction and offerings of the membership
Lock in the lowest price it will ever be ($15/mo.)
Join a sisterhood of conscious women who are ready to form deep friendships and rise in their power – together

I do have a lot of the membership already fleshed out, but it’s not perfect (and that’s the point). You’ll be co-creating it with me, offering your ideas, your voice, and your wisdom. This is about building something together.
Membership will re-open up for registration September 29- October 4.
We are stronger in sisterhood. I would be honored to have you as one of the first women to walk this path with me.

What You'll Get In Moondays

Simple steps you can take on your journey towards magic, adventure, growth, sisterhood and making an impact
Achieve progress and create new friendships

The satisfaction of giving back: 10% of membership fees go to non-profit organizations supporting women

FREE with your membership:

Free fun, stimulating and fulfilling monthly events including one or more of the following:
- In-person Red Tents
- Virtual New Moon Circles
- Virtual Full Moon Celebration Check-Ins
- Inspire Sessions - creative get-togethers in person and online
- Meet and Greets
- Goddess Swims
- Movie Nights
Chat areas on a membership platform where we will be able to interact with each other and have deep conversations. (It will be nice to be off social media!)
A membership directory so you can connect to sisters with shared interests
A structure to realize our potential using frameworks like the cycles of our lives, the moon cycle, the seasons, the three stages of women's lives and the chakra system
A sisterhood community of like-minded supportive women (where you can pair up twice a month to get to know one another)

Looking forward to co-creating with you!
With love and fire,
Susan

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Reclaiming Our Voices

3/31/2025

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My teacher was stunned when she heard me blabbering away with my best friend on the school bus. I was an extremely shy child who hardly spoke, so to her, this was completely out of character. At home, no one ever asked how I felt about anything, so I grew up believing my words didn’t matter. No one seemed to care what I had to say—except for my two closest friends. Talking with them felt like a revelation. It felt good to be heard, to have someone take an interest in me.

I remembered one of my grandmothers being very quiet, too. I hardly knew her because she barely spoke. The women in my family who did talk mostly filled the air with judgment—always criticizing others. It felt toxic.

Meanwhile, I resented how easily men seemed to speak their minds. Why was it so painful for me to speak mine? Why were so many women’s conversations centered on tearing each other down?

The answers became clear when I took a Women’s Studies course in college and learned about the patriarchal system we’ve been living under for millennia. In order to maintain power, men have ensured that women’s voices don’t matter. We’ve been conditioned to obsess over how others perceive us, while our culture pits us against each other—keeping us distrustful of each other, divided, and ultimately weaker.

My journey to finding my voice—and becoming brave enough to use it—has been long and transformative. A big part of this growth has come from our Red Tents. These sacred gatherings are where we focus on empowerment, confidence, and self-worth. It’s where we share tools for growth, supporting each other in stepping into our divine feminine power. And most importantly, it’s a space where our voices are truly heard.

Now, more than ever, we need to use those voices. Under this current federal administration, we are witnessing a resurgence of patriarchal oppression. This is a moment that demands we speak up—not just for ourselves, but for our daughters and for Mother Earth.
Our next Red Tent is this Saturday night, and we will be focusing on clearing and activating our throat chakras. Some of us will also be marching that afternoon, raising our voices in protest. It will be a powerful day of truth-speaking, and I invite you to be part of it.
Register here.

How confident are you in expressing yourself the way you’d like? Let me know in the comments.

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Broken Hearts

1/23/2025

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On November 6th, at 2:30 a.m., while at my Eco-retreat in Colombia, I broke down in tears. The news that the orange felon would again take office hit me like a tidal wave of despair. I felt gutted.

My heart aches for those in Los Angeles who have lost everything in the recent wildfires—the people, the animals, the entire ecosystems.

I am consumed with sadness and anger over the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and the endless suffering they bring.

If you’re a living, breathing, even slightly sensitive human being, your heart is probably breaking too. These are heavy times. The climate crisis, relentless conflicts, and political turmoil weigh on all of us.

Our resilience is being tested. Showing up for life every day feels like a monumental task.

But in these dark times, we have each other. And we have tools to help us navigate this storm.

For many, it’s a time to grieve. And we need to honor that. It’s okay to feel the sadness, the anger, the fear.

For some, stepping away from the news is necessary for their peace of mind. I understand that too.

The energy of the divine feminine—with its flow and path of least resistance—is essential.

It teaches us to rest, to soften, to nurture.

But there’s also a time to embrace the divine masculine—to be assertive, to act, to rise.

After all, the yin-yang symbol reminds us that balance is key; a drop of yang resides within the yin.

Bishop Budde demonstrated this beautifully. She was grounded, kind, and compassionate, but also firm and forthright when she stood up to the Orange Menace. She spoke from her heart with grace and courage.

Now, it’s our turn.

We need to grieve, to process, and then to reignite the fire within.

Let’s channel our heartbreak into action—to defend our Mother Earth and her inhabitants, to fight for a better future.

But first, let’s heal our hearts.

We can’t pour from an empty cup.

That’s why at our next Red Tent, we will focus on healing and activating our heart chakras.

When we live from this place, we become centered and powerful.

Love becomes our North Star, and the journey forward becomes bearable.

Together, we can find strength. Together, we can move forward.

Hang in there. We can do this!

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Ayahuasca and Tonic Masculinity

12/7/2024

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Last month, I had a transformative experience at La Wayra, an Ayahuasca retreat in Colombia. Among many profound teachings I received, during one of my ceremonies, Grandmother Ayahuasca informed me that it would be deeply beneficial to introduce plant medicine to the women of Moondays. Sometimes, during our Red Tent gatherings, I feel frustrated that we can’t always dive as deeply as I know we’re capable of. I feel a yearning for something more expansive. Plant medicine offers a pathway to that depth with relative speed and clarity. Sam, who runs the retreat, suggested I consider bringing my group there to experience the medicine firsthand. As wonderful as that sounds, I realize not all of you would be able to take a trip like that. Fortunately, we’re in Oregon, where psilocybin is now legal in therapeutic settings, making this type of deepening more accessible than ever. Stay tuned for more details on how and when we’ll embark on these adventures together!

On another note, have you heard of the term tonic masculinity? I just learned about it recently, and it resonated deeply. It’s the perfect antidote to toxic masculinity. I first learned about it from Bev, one of my Ayahuasca retreat sisters. She shared a fascinating perspective: initially, she believed that for her own plant medicine journey she should experience them exclusively with women. But after spending 18 days at the retreat, she recognized the immense value of healing alongside men.The kind of men who show up to plant medicine retreats are often deeply committed to their own healing and growth—they are tonic men. Their energy supports the divine feminine, amplifying the healing process for everyone. Bev shared how she felt more empowered and made significant progress by sharing the space with them. Watch her whole testimony here.
Here’s a wonderful article about tonic masculinity if you’d like to dive deeper into the concept.

Who’s ready to heal and grow? Feeling hopeless or helpless about the state of the world is valid—these are very real and legitimate emotions. But instead of staying stuck in those feelings, let’s transmute them. Let’s channel that energy into something more sustainable—a fuel that powers us to become the best versions of ourselves. Imagine using that fuel to serve others, to create beauty and joy in our lives, even in the midst of life’s shadows.

Together, we can rise above and transform. Let’s continue this journey toward healing, growth, and balance.

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Ten Year Anniversary

10/20/2024

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I never imagined I’d be leading women’s circles, let alone for ten years!

As I reflected on how I got here, something clicked. When I was a teenager, I belonged to a Jewish youth group. There were different roles for each member. My role was social organizer. I was in charge of calling the different boys’ chapters to set up parties between their group and ours, the Embers.. Even though I was shy, I loved it. It gave me a reason to reach out, to connect with people — especially boys, who I happened to be a fan of. I was always more comfortable hanging out with guys. Why? Looking back, I think it was because of the patriarchy which pits women against each other, encouraging us to be catty, judgmental, and competitive. Most of my early experiences with other girls and women felt like that. Maybe that’s why I was later drawn to organizing spaces for women to come together, to transform that old paradigm.

That’s not to say I didn’t have meaningful female friendships. I did. As a kid, I had two best girlfriends, and instead of being catty, they were supportive, interesting, and fun. I always craved more of that energy. It wasn’t until I read The Red Tent in my 40s that I figured out how I could truly create it. The book inspired me to create spaces like the Red Tent — cozy, inviting, womb-like spaces where women could gather and truly connect. The book touched a deep pain point for me: I was sorely missing that kind of female energy in my life. Not just casual get-togethers with random girlfriends, but intentional spaces to dive deep — with each other, with Spirit, and through the cycles of life, integrating personal, societal, and planetary evolution into our journeys.

It’s been an amazing 10 years of bringing women together and elevating the divine feminine. Woot, woot! Over these years, I have met and connected with many, many amazing, beautiful sisters, and watched them connect with each other. I feel the growth and support from all the work we’ve done together. I’m grateful for the abundance of yin energy in my life now, and for these meaningful connections with my sisters. Together we have radiated out into the world a wealth of divine feminine energy, helping to shift it toward a more balanced, harmonious planet.

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Angry Men

8/17/2024

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My father never had to punish me because he instilled in me a fear of his intense anger. I did everything possible to avoid his rage, hence, I was a “good girl.” He was a typical man in this way, exhibiting a quality of his socialized gender -- male rage. It is, unfortunately, a gender norm. Men have so much anger, so much hostility. No wonder there is beaucoup tension, violence and war in this world. I have often wondered why this is. I found some answers in Bell Hooks’ book, The Will To Change: Men, Masculinity, And Love. She writes it basically comes from two things:

1. The social identity of a male in our patriarchal society is to be dominant, an aggressor. They are conditioned to be “strong,” to fight, to use their force and might physically and energetically. If you can’t live up to these expectations and you're male, you’re considered a wuss, weak, not a “man.”

2. The other quality men are socialized to be is stoic and repress their feelings. Men are not supposed to show their feelings, let alone have the difficult ones that need to be processed, like sadness, hurt, vulnerability, trauma, etc. The adage “big boys don’t cry” has taught men to repress and suppress these thorny feelings. But, as another great book’s title says, “Feelings Buried Alive Never Die.” Instead, they boil beneath the service until they finally explode to let off steam, resulting in hostility and violence.

When your spouse or significant other is a man, there’s a good chance you have had to deal with your partner’s anger. And if not your partner’s, perhaps some other man in your life. I used to take my husband's anger really personally. Now I realize, I’m not alone. It’s a societal problem. Not only do we have to deal with it in our personal lives, we have been the brunt of male hostility since the beginning of patriarchy, from domestic abuse, femicide, rape, war, etc. for thousands of years. This conditioning reinforces toxic masculinity and hinders emotional growth.

What can we do about it?

Recognize it for what it is. Stop taking it personally.
Talk to the men in your life about it so that they can become more self-aware. Encourage emotional expression and empathy in men.
Teach our children about it and ask your baby’s daddy to model better behavior for your children.
Be there for women who want to get out of an abusive relationship.
If you are in an abusive relationship, please do whatever it takes to get out. There is a national hotline you can text and/or call: Text BEGIN to 88788, call 800-799-7233

Here is a great article about male anger including the 12 signs a man has an anger problem, how it impacts relationships, how to cope with a man who has anger issues and how to treat it. https://www.choosingtherapy.com/signs-a-man-has-anger-issues/

Have you experienced male anger in your life? Please share in the comments.

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Goals, Intentions and New Moons

7/30/2024

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I hate setting goals. They never did anything for me. I would set goals for my business, like increase sales by 20% in 6 months, and nothing would ever come of it. Then I would feel deflated and not want to set any more goals. For a retail store, once you have your location, customer service, marketing and products in place, sales are mostly dictated by things like cycles of the year, the economy, the weather and various other external factors that are beyond our control. Losing weight is another goal I seldom realize unless there is a specific notable event on the horizon like my own wedding. I gave up goals years ago. But there’s something different about setting intentions.

Intentions are softer. Goals are rigid. Setting intentions seem to be more about self-care and personal growth. They’re something to try earnestly for, not something I will be really bummed about if I don’t reach. When I don’t reach a “goal,” I feel disappointed. When I don’t follow through on an intention, it feels easier to say, well, I’ll try again next time or maybe I need to adjust my intentions. It may sound like just a case of semantics, but it makes a difference to me.

Doing the work of setting intentions is lonely unless you have a group to work with. The other benefit of working in a group is that the energy of a group gives you momentum and accountability. Not that anyone will give you a hard time for not fulfilling your intentions, but that they are there to answer to. It gives us that much more impetus to follow through. And when you see other people manifesting their dreams, that energy rubs off on you. It brings to mind a challenging hike I was on recently with a big group of women. This hike was a 4.9 mile loop with 1,500 feet of elevation gain. I really dislike going uphill for a long time. But these women just boogied up that hill and I wanted to keep up with them so it motivated me and gave me the energy I needed to make it happen.

This is why I love working together in a group to set and manifest intentions like at our Virtual Dark Moon Gatherings. The New Moon (or Dark Moon) is the perfect time to plant your seeds because it symbolizes new beginnings and fresh starts. During the new moon, the moon is not visible in the sky, representing a blank slate and the potential for growth. This phase is associated with introspection and making plans for the future. By aligning your intentions with the natural cycle of the moon, you can harness its energy to support your personal growth and manifest your desires. The gradual increase in light following the new moon mirrors the development and realization of your intentions, making it an ideal time for starting new projects and setting your intentions.

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Sex Goddess

6/24/2024

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I yearned to feel like I was sexually desirable at the age of 12. I would coyly lean against the back of my dad’s car in the driveway to get the attention of guys passing by in their cars. If they hooted at me and catcalled, I enjoyed it because in my mind, it was validation. It was feeding my ego, but it was also feeding something else in me -- my eros.

I had been obese as a child, and learned that being overweight was undesirable, so getting that validation as a preteen was a victory for me. Once I actually grew into my body, catcalling felt like men exerting their power over women with their judgment. As a young adult, I still felt self conscious of my body while making love, not confident in my desirability. Luckily, my partner at the time taught me that it’s all about energy, that it didn’t matter what I looked like. If I could just believe I felt desirable and sexy, I could get out of my head and into my body, allowing the sexual energy to percolate and rise up ( down ;-)), embodying a sexual goddess. It was an invaluable lesson and I was so grateful for it. When I took one of the ‘Which Goddess Are You?’ tests online, it told me that I was most aligned with Aphrodite, the Goddess of love, lust, beauty, pleasure and passion. I completely identify with her because one of the great joys in my life is sensuality and sexuality.

Once I was finally able to enjoy sex and feel good about my sexuality, I still felt the societal pressure of having to check myself. In our patriarchal culture, it’s not acceptable for a woman to be overtly sexual. Of course, we all know that’s completely unfair. Women have a lot of sexual energy, too. What would it look like if we were able to unleash all of this energy without judgment, hindrance or fear of being raped? It would be such a magnificent juicy world! I think the men would love it, too.

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Finding Magic When You're in a Funk

The Moondays Membership is Opening Again!

Moondays Membership

Reclaiming Our Voices

Broken Hearts

Ayahuasca and Tonic Masculinity

Ten Year Anniversary

Angry Men

Goals, Intentions and New Moons

Sex Goddess

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