Pass the Story

http://www.heatherdakota.com/books.html

I just received the proof for Pass the Story! A dream that started almost three years ago has come to fruition. Cheers to "Wo-manifesting!" I wanted to share a little bit of its history, and of course, a story!

Several years ago, I was sitting around a campfire with a group of women I didn't know. Quite frankly, I had very little regard for women. I thought all of them were bat-shit crazy, backstabbing bitches, including myself. None of us was good enough, worthy enough, smart enough, or beautiful enough. WE weren't enough...period...end of discussion. These were my experiences, my words, and my story. All of our stories become filters through which we see reality.

It's Always a Good Day When...

"Do what you LOVE, LOVE what you do."

Polar Bear's Magic by Tracy Whichard    What's your magic?

I absolutely LOVE that statement, because it sums up how I feel about my work in the world. As a book and website designer for Artists, Authors, Healers, and Magic Makers, I get to meet some amazing people.

This week, I'd like to introduce you to Tracy Morgan Whichard! She is a newly published author.

Tracy came to me with big dreams of publishing a children's book. In her words, "I didn't have a clue what I was doing." I helped her write the story and then designed the book for her. We walked hand-in-hand and step-by-step through the entire publishing process.

Tracy is now a published author!

Her book Polar Bear's Magic is available on Amazon!

Come on an adventure with Polar Bear to discover the magic of each animal from Owl to Buffalo and Seagull to Honeybee. Polar Bear learns that there are no mistakes and that everyone has a different kind of magic.

Whimsical and fun illustrations

Perfect bedtime story

Great for beginning readers

Repetitious sounds

Adorable animal characters

What's your magic?
Join me in throwing the confetti and having a virtual glass of champagne by leaving a comment and congratulations for Tracy below! Woohoo!!!!

About Tracy:
Tracy is an experienced mixed media artist and the founder of Ladybug Studio and Fearless Girl Art (art expression for kids), "I feel compelled to share my passion for art, animals, and nature through creativity, intuition, and self-expression."  Tracy encourages children (adults, too) to believe in themselves through a sense of "wide-eyed" magic and wonder. She is constantly dreaming of ways to make art fun for all ages. "I believe the need for laughter and humor is a must!"

Find Your Place and It Will Nourish You

Hummingbird Medicine brings Joy, Happiness, and Love. Find your place and it will nourish you.

 "We are Divine enough to ask, and we are important enough to receive." ~Wayne Dyer

Hiya Gorgeous,

Phew...what a month it has been! Spring is showing me what rebirth is really all about, and it's not necessarily all sunshine and roses. I've been in a releasing and death phase for the past two years. Finally, the Phoenix is rising from the ashes of my former life. The stories I believed in are no longer valid, and I had to break my heart in order to regain my soul.

Last year was a test of human endurance, confidence in myself, and trust in the Divine.

Why You Need a Crystal in Your Bra...and other Woo-woo Stuff!

Why you need a crystal in your bra...and other woo-woo stuff!

I know it might sound silly to some of you, but I know many soul-o-preneurs who put crystals in their bras. And I'm one of them. Why in the world would we put a crystal in our bras? These "ta-ta stones" reduce anxiety, calm emotions, relieve stress and worry, and heal the heart, not to mention they can BOOST your business. They positively affect your energy and keep your intentions close to your heart. What soul-o-preneur couldn't use a little of that?

For me, it's a matter of being true to myself. There has been a medicine woman inside of me for years. I've stuffed her down and shut her up for far too long. She wants her time in the sun, so I've incorporated her into every aspect of my life. As a wise medicine woman and business healer, I had to take my own advice and follow my heart. Guess what, it led to poverty. Yes, you read that right. Then I followed my head. That lead to money in the bank, a sickened mental state, and my soul crying out for freedom. Finally, I found the best of both worlds. And you can, too! (Hint: it happened to be a little citrine crystal I put in my bra)

Be true to your soulful self!  Find the medicine that is balm for your soul and helps you shine your light.

Here is my truth:

4 Steps to Cleanse, Clear, and Release In Your Business Each Year

2015 Releasing Ritual

For more than 10 years at the end of each year, I go through a cleansing, clearing, and releasing ritual in my life and business. It is a great opportunity to reflect, re-member, and release what no longer serves. I usually take November and December to do this, so I don't feel rushed to get it all done in a week, or something silly like that. Focus on one area at a time!

Here are the 4 steps that I use:

1. Choose an animal guide. This year my guide for reflecting, remembering, and releasing is Ibis. During a journey, Ibis explained that I needed to bring more balance into my life, revive and restore my heart and soul. Therefore, I will be working with her during this phase. You can find out more about journey work here.
2. Cleanse, clear, and clean EVERYTHING! This means from my spiritual tools to sweeping and mopping the floor. My inner world and outer world both get a thorough going through. This includes backing up and clearing out computer files and paper files, gathering tax papers, putting old notes in a new idea journal, and feng shuiing my space. I sing the song Holy Mother that I heard from Pixie Lighthorse several years ago for all of my inner and outer cleaning. It connects me deeper to the tasks of cleansing, clearing, and cleaning.

Mining the Inner World For Your Business

A Journey to the Spirit Realm looks and feels like this.

 
What is journey work? I get that question a lot!

Here's what it is and how I use it to help other women soul-o-preneurs:

A journey is a powerful meditative state and the gateway to non-ordinary reality. Ordinary reality is the world we can see, touch, and feel in our every day. Journeying is the method that I use to access other worlds where the spirit helpers are found. These unseen forces have guided and protected you since you were born. Non-ordinary reality is the realm of the spirit, of visions and dreams, and the sources of your energy, creativity, passions, and love. Being there is an honor and a blessing not just for me, but for those I journey for. I bring back wisdom and words of empowerment that relate to you and your business.

How it's done: 

In Honor of National Cat Day...

Kitty says, "Take a nap, so you can take care of business."

Who knew there was actually a National Cat Day? However, cats can teach us a million wonderful things about taking care of ourselves, so we can take care of business, our families, and our communities. So in honor of National Cat Day, my kitty says, "take a nap."

How do you take really good care of yourself? Tell us in the comments below!

5 Lessons from Ant to save a Soul-o-preneur Precious Time

5 Lessons from Ant to Save a Soul-o-preneur Precious Time

I've been watching the sugar ants in our kitchen (that we've been trying to encourage to go outside), but they are determined to march across the kitchen floor, up the kitchen counter, and over to the sink. They stop to chat with each other briefly, but are constantly on the go. Then, it dawned on me. There are a lot of them because they are small. They are constantly on the go because their only job is to feed the queen and the nest. As Soul-o-preneurs, we're running our businesses a lot like Ant searches for food. Here are a few lessons that we an learn from Ant:

Stay focused. Your time is precious, so make sure you're focusing that time on the things that are going to move your business forward. These things are: creating products, marketing your services, and laying your business foundations. Staying focused on one thing at a time will get everything done faster.

Stay organized. In order to save time, organize everything from your files (hard copy and online) to your work area. Make sure that you are using a system that works for you. After all, you don't see Wolf using Ant's systems.

Know and write down your processes. If you create a system that works for you (i.e. a product launch, filing system, or marketing system), write it down. This will help you grow your business in the long run. As soon as you're able to delegate a task, someone else can step in and do it just the way you've always done it, because you have a process.

Delegate. You don't see the Queen Ant coming up and looking for food, because that's not her job. She has delegated the job of gathering food for the nest to the worker ants. You can do the same thing with tasks that are not your strengths or that you simply don't like. There will always be another Soul-o-preneur whose passions can step right in and get the job done. And then, we're spreading the energy/money, love, and all of us get to shine our lights.

I know. I hear you...it costs money, but how much is it costing you in time? Your time is a limited resource as well. Most importantly, is the task taking up time that could be devoted to creating for your business?  If so, delegate it! And where there is a will, there is a way!

Communicate your needs. Don't sit in silence and suffer. Spending your precious time researching how to do a task is not an efficient use of your time. If you haven't got it within an hour, it's time to ask everyone you know if they know how to do it. Someone will know or can recommend someone to you.





These tips will help you save time now and in the future.  If you want to grow your business, it's really important to work smarter, not harder. Working 80 hours a week is not serving you or your tribe. Implementing some of these tips will have your business working for you, not the other way around.

For more tips, techniques, and support, head on over to the Wise Woman's Society. What Lesson from Ant intrigues you most or that you already use in your business? Leave a comment below.

How to Spin a Web for your Business

A Soulful Business is like Spider's Web

I've been seeing a lot of spiders lately.
I've been thinking a lot about my business, too.