Mindfulness Tips from Palmaïa's Shaman

Rooted in ancient Mayan philosophies, Palmaïa - The House of AïA, a new sustainable wellness retreat on the Riviera Maya, has recruited its on-site shaman to offer at-home wellness advice and provide mindful tips to soothe the mind, body and soul during this stressful time for our world.

Spa Profile: Atlantis Spa at Palmaïa, The House of AïA

Shaman Balder (who was raised from birth by shamanic principles and specializes in reflexology, palmistry, astrology, and mythology) has put together tips and practices designed to reinstate peace and harmony while staying home.

Cleansing the Home

[Photo by Neal E. Johnson]

Cleansing the home: As simple as it may seem, the act of cleaning the home involves a very powerful and ancient magic, capable of creating positive effects both on our emotions and thoughts, and on the environment. Just as you physically clean, you are also cleaning the road to attract positive situations.

• Sweeping. The act of sweeping is recognized in most ancient cultures as a powerful way of attracting order and prosperity to us. Sweep from the area furthest from the entrance, cleaning each corner until you reach the front door. In this way, you are cleaning from the inside out, hinting that when you clean your interior—when you remove unnecessary thoughts and emotions from you—the exterior harmonizes.

• Declutter (aka “Marie Kondo” it). When matter stagnates for a long time, it creates physical, psychological, and energetic blockages, so by removing what you no longer use, you allow room for new and better things to flow into your life, bringing the things that spark joy to the forefront.

Cleansing the Mind

[Photo by Madison Lavern]

Cleansing the mind: Just as we bathe to keep our bodies clean and sweep to keep our house clean, we also need to check that the things that are destined to stay in our unconscious and become our ideas and concepts are of quality.

• Self-reflect. Channel your inner feelings in a healthy manner by making a list of the ideas and concepts that have led you to this state. Ask yourself: Do I want to continue thinking the same way? Or is it time to reevaluate the ideas and opinions that I have been nourishing from and seek to nurture myself with better ideas that take me to the place where I want to be?

• Try meditating. Intense physical work is the key to a calm mind. Pick a comfortable place to sit for a long period of time. Soften the body by relaxing your breath. Start with the muscles of the face, specially your tongue, letting it fall inside your mouth without touching any of the teeth or palate. Continue relaxing each muscle until you reach the feet.

Decoration

[Photo by Manja Vitolic]

The way in which we establish the environment and the hierarchy of the people who inhabit the house, in addition to the daily situations that occur in it, is through the images that adorn our walls, since the brain, unconsciously reacts according to what these powerful stimuli dictate to it.

• As for the pictures of the inhabitants of the house, the portraits that occupy the main rooms, that is to say where they all meet to spend a large part of the time, need to be of the predominant inhabitants. The higher the photo is hung, the higher the esteem you have for this person. A great unity exercise is putting a portrait in the main spot of the house, where all the inhabitants appear together in harmony.

• On the other hand, the paintings, calendars, images and statuettes also influence the circumstances that occur in the house and with its inhabitants. It is highly recommended that all of these objects have themes of harmony, abundance, healthy relationships, positive energy, and favorable situations.

• I invite you to make an analysis of the images that you have in your house and decide if what they make you feel is what you would like to continue feeling.

Furniture Arrangements

[Photo by Kari Shea]

The sensation that we have when moving around our house is very similar to how we feel when moving around in life. For this reason, it is very important that the place you inhabit has a furniture distribution that allows you to feel comfortable, protected, and free.

• We have already talked about keeping the whole house clean, now we are talking about being able to move around freely inside. For example, if there is little space to get into your bed, in your daily life will be common difficulties for you to relax. If your dining room is not a relaxing and pleasant space, you will not give so much importance to your food or when it comes to sitting down to eat.

• Take some of your time to reflect on what you could do, and what you would have to change to ensure that each of the spaces in your house serve its purpose in the best possible way. Remember that if you invest your energy to improve your interior, in this case the place where you live in, you will have great improvements in your daily life.

• As a last tip on this topic, it is very important to avoid accumulations anywhere in the house that cause energy to stagnate.

Flowers & Aromas

[Photo by Heather Ford]

One of the things that brings more abundance to the home and life are the flowers and aromas. Incenses and essential oils have a very pleasant and powerful effect that allows our body and mind to relax and have greater clarity of thought, allowing us to make better decisions. The flowers and aromas create an environment of harmony and well-being due to the sense of smell, which when persisting pleasant fragrances, sends the brain the signal of being in a safe environment, and it can relax. Since ancient times, flowers and aromatic herbs have been a symbol and vehicle of harmony and well-being. I invite you to discover your favorites to fill your environment with joy.

Nature

[Photo by Denise Johnson]

Another simple action that you can do to attract abundance and harmony to your life is to have elements of connection with Mother Earth in your house, since she is the best representation of abundance and unconditional love.

• Keep in a visible point of your house seeds, such as corn or wheat and a platter of fruit. Also, give salt a special place and presentation. These elements have a very powerful relationship with our survival. By giving them a special place, we are recognizing our Mother Earth as the one that sustains our life without underestimating the idea of Divinity that each one has.

• To create even more abundance, it’s a great habit to prepare a container full of candies to offer visitors. This, in addition to generating abundance, will make people always happy to visit you.

A final thought: “Remember that by giving your best you open the way to receive the best of life. May peace be your way.”

For more information, visit their website and follow them on Instagram: @thehouseofaia

[Images courtesy of Palmaïa, The House of AïA]

Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk