Dear Wild Woman,
Very late tonight or tomorrow morning, depending on where you are, is the Full Moon. This means we are halfway through our In Our Skin Cycle. This Moon Cycle is the second cycle in our year long series, In the Flesh, where we are exploring all the ways we can feel more deeply embodied. We are exploring what happens when we stop asking ‘how do I look?’ and begin asking ‘how do I feel?’.
In exploring our relationship with our skin, we don’t have to look far to see all the ways we are told our skin should LOOK. It seems that around every corner there is a product being pushed on us with promises to make our skin the perfect color, the perfect wrinkle free texture, to erase our scars, or our stretch marks. So, this cycle (as an act of resistance to that pressure) we are exploring how we can make our skin FEEL GOOD. How can we awaken the sensing nature of our skin?
Here at the Wild Woman Project we deeply believe in the power of learning from and celebrating each other’s diverse experiences, stories, and perspectives. This Full Moon, we have asked the Circle Leaders of The Wild Woman Project to share their experiences with you by answering this question:
What practices make your skin FEEL good?
“My skin thanks me for nourishing it from the inside and showing kindness from the outside. So I try and drink plenty of water and eat good food to make it glow from the inside and take relaxing baths and massage in lovely body oil to make it smile from the outside. But the thing that makes my skin truly sing is when I think good things about it! When I acknowledge what an amazing job it does and reminisce about the stories of my scars and stretch marks with a full and grateful heart.”
~ Rochelle Marsden – East Riding of Yorkshire, England
“I don’t have the best relationship with my skin. I have always been very mean and hurtful to it. This month I have been focused on caring for my skin in a new way. I have been taking lots of baths with rose petals, rubbing the rose petals on my skin. Closing my eyes and just appreciating the sensations that arise from this huge organ of mine. At night, I shed my clothes and lie naked in my yoga room. I put my heater on, choose any crystals or oils I feel called to have close to me and I meditate on my skin, i talk to my skin, caress it if I feel called, I go into my skin. I have found this practice super healing for my relationship with my skin.”
~ Aimee McLear – Berkshire County, MA
“My skin loves to be touched in a soft and sacred manner. She loves simplicity and nourishment of warm oil, with a hint of frankincense or Rose. Soft sheets with a dap of lavender are nothing short of magical.”
~ Dna Vacchelli
“Bathing in warm water…Massage too! I love being touched!”
~ Jennifer Hryciw – Pacific, WA
“I love to slather my skin with almond oil after a nice long bath in Lavender scented Epsom salt.”
~ Suzette West – Port Orchard, WA
“I love to use oils on my skin. I luxuriate in the process of spreading it on my skin, soaking in the scents, and nourishing my skin. I love this especially for my arms. I also take my time using a scrub on my legs in the shower, and slowly rub it up and down my limbs.
And massage is my favorite way to feel good in my skin. Whether it’s light touch when I simply place my arm out for my husband to lightly rub, or going all in for a spa experience.”
~ Kimmay Caldwell – NYC, NY
“I love to pamper my skin with body products I make myself, from sugar coconut scrubs to whipped shea body butter, face masks and self-massage. I enjoy showing my skin the love I would like to receive.”
~ Mandy Ruangrit
“I’m a big fan of baths. Whether it’s epsom salt + essential oil or I go all out with a Lush bath bomb, I have a glass of red wine, a face mask and I soak. I also find this a really powerful place for New Moon intention setting.”
~ Natalie Bird – Cincinnati, OH
“A lover’s touch, baths with essential oil infused salts, dancing, laughing really hard, massages, and listening to music (my skin tingles when I hear songs I love, especially deep/powerful ones).”
~ Leigh-Anne LoPinto – Los Angeles, CA
“I enjoy wild swimming when I get the chance and I can steal myself to strip off: the shock of the sudden plunge into cold water or agonising inch by inch immersion. Salt water, fresh water, lakes, rivers, seas, the feel of the water gliding past my skin, holding my body up, the strength and flow of the current, the shocking cold, the shivering, tingling skin after – I feel completely and utterly alive, primitive, wild, senses sharp, the rise of hairs and blood to the skin in the air cooler or warmer than the water. And after, dried salt on my skin, salt tangled hair, or the smell of peat stained lake water and green weed on my skin. The sand or mud between my toes. The amazing tingle of towel rubbed skin. It’s a ritual, a rite of immersion and reemergence, reckless, wild, immediate, skin shivering life!”
~ Sarah Houldsworth, Edinburgh, Scotland
“One of my favorite rituals for my skin is dry brushing. I have been dry brushing before I shower in the mornings for several years. I love how it wakes up my body, allowing the blood and energy to rise from my tippy toes to my heart and up to my lymphoids. After a warm shower, I follow up the ritual with coconut oil. Starting at my feet and working my way to my neck/head/face. The silky smooth oil makes me feel like a true Goddess, and my skin always seems to sparkle in gratitude.”
~ Kerry Griffith – Centerburg, Ohio
Your Turn!
What is one resource/practice or inspiration that has helped your skin FEEL good?
On the Horizon
Join us for an hour-long New Moon Meditation Adventure on December 30th!
Online, from anywhere.
Using a dynamic meditation journey, we will tune into the New Moon, to your own Inner Guidance, synced up with wild-hearted women from around the world. This offering will include music, storytelling, meditation, journaling prompts & intention-setting.
Can’t make it live? No worries. All participants will receive a copy of the recording with 24 hours of the session.
Join the WILD WOMAN UNDERGROUND.
"The Circle Leader Training Program at The Wild Woman Project was one of the most transformative and healing experiences of my life. I have received many tools, resources, support, and connections that I will carry on with me forever." ~ Hannah Devin, Graduate
We have Wild Woman Project-trained Circle facilitators is 26 countries, and 44 out of the 50 United States.
Amanda is the Director of Communications & Creative Development for The Wild Woman Project, as well as: Wild Woman Project Circle Leader, a member of the Love Crew at the annual WILD WOMAN FEST, and a Mentor for The Wild Woman Project Circle Leader Training Program. She holds a B.A. in Theatre from California State University, Fullerton where she intensively studied Movement for the Stage. A self described Mystic, Artist, Witch, People Person, Beverage Aficionado from Los Angeles California; She is particularly passionate about the space where Art, Activism, and Spirit collide.
Getting a massage is the best. But a close follow up is a hot Epsom salt bath and saying nice things out loud to my body. I spent years saying mean things like “I hate my thighs” so I practice telling my thighs that I love them now. Also practicing Reiki and yoga again. I needed this refresher. A reminder to be in my skin. I’ve had several years of chronic pain and I didn’t realized how much I was resisting being in my skin.
Beautiful, Jennifer! Love this!
xoChris
I feed my skin (and entire body health, too) by making sure I eat plenty of healthy organic omega 3s, both as supplements and in wild caught salmon and mackerel. I know it’s one step removed from the sensual the lights I enjoy, but it’s absolutely essential as we grow dryer with age.
Oooohhh…Yes, Mary! Love it!
As a massage therapist and craniosacral therapist, I’m in contact with other people’s skin all day in very different ways (cranio is very light touch). But when it comes time for me to think about my skin, my connection with it seems a little lost right now. It takes me a while to relax when getting a massage, and part of how I “tap in” is by really feeling the energy around me when I’m touched by someone else. It’s a process — opening up is not easy for me, but it seems possible when I receive the work I love to give.
Marissa,
Such a dichotomy you navigate, being in lots of physical contact *and* having to maintain healthy energetic boundaries! You sound very aware of the challenge. We need bright lights like you in our world.
This is an important perspective, Marissa! Thank you for sharing.
Love,
Chris
Hi Marissa,
Receiving touch isn’t easy for me either. It is definitely a process for me. It can sometimes take me a long time to receive things – like watching grass grow – and I’m learning to be compassionate with myself in this process. I am grateful today that I am learning and I am receiving. Thanks for sharing <3
Emily
I’m a huge fan of warm baths with salts, oils, and whatever else I can think of to make it a true ritual practice. I love the feeling of oils on my skin… and my real passion is exfoliation. I am completely obsessed with sugar scrubs (which also ties into feeling oils on my skin). There’s something truly satisfying (from a sensory perspective) about feeling scrubs between my hands before it even reaches other parts of my body. Does anyone else love that?
Depi! You have inspired me to try a scrub! Thank you.
I have recently began Fasciablasting and loved it so much I added the Faceblaster to my routine. There are many benefits, one of them being visually helpful to my skin. But. I focus on the pain relief, the circulation, the ritual of taking time out for myself. My skin feels less irritated, more moisturized and I’m excited to see if I can make it through the harsh air of winter without a dermatitis outbreak. Aaaahhhh, beautiful visions of a healthy relaxed body through nurturing my skin and fascia.
How cool, Kari. Looking into this Fasciablasting!
Thanks,
Chris
I’ve had ups and downs with my relationship with my skin. My skin has many moles and as a kid I was extremely self conscious about it. My wise grandmother once said to me “ Ashley, didn’t you know that every spot on your skin is a spot that has been kissed by an angel. They leave a mark there for you to remember.” She then lifted her shirt to show me some lines on her lower belly. “These angels were brought to me by your father. When he was growing in my belly the angels would come and kiss him and these are the marks they left behind. Aren’t they beautiful?”
Over the past few years I have been looking in the mirror and judging the lines starting to form on my forehead and around my eyes. There are times when I think about going to see someone who will fix them with expensive creams or injections. Just about the time I start googling anti-aging procedures my grandmother kisses my heart and says “Self love”. So now when I start feeling like I need to “fix” my skin I take that money I would have invested in an expensive cream or procedure and I invest it in a massage or self care retreat and I think about how grateful I am for all these angel kisses 😇💋
What a beautiful story, Ashley! Thank you SO much for sharing this Grandma Wisdom (the best kind).
Love,
Chris
Dipping into Spring Creek during any season is exhilarating for my skin. The water feels so pure and fresh and as I go under… I feel like I’m being cleansed by mama Gaia.
~💙~
Oooh, yes, Mihndi! This is a great one!
Love,
Chris
So many good comments here. Dry brushing my skin, the a warm bath with Epsom Salt followed by coconut oil makes my skin feel amazing. Eating well and staying hydrated also invigorates me. But most of all, holding my snuggling children in the morning makes me love my skin. Those little ones are just as much a part of me as my arms or legs and I in turn am their home, their starting point, their sanctuary. Everyday I am amazed at all that my body is capable of.
Mmmm, Tanya! My skin felt warm just reading this!
Love,
Chris
thanks for all your good ideas! I just want to share the following quote with all of you:
“Your body ist not ruined. You’re a goddamn tiger who earned her stripes.”
LOVE IT!
I’ve been growing my hair out long for a few years, and these days one of my favorite things to do is walk around my apartment without a top on just feeling the tickle of my hair along the length of my back and arms, warming and nurturing me. My skin feels really happy when I make time for that.
During this moon cycle in the skin, I’ve attended two sweat lodges that were clothing optional (and co-ed! :-O) and although I haven’t felt called by spirit to disrobe there, I can feel this practice and my meditations on being in my skin helping me to feel so much more comfortable with my own nudity in my natural state. My body shame is disappearing and this is an area I have struggled with a great deal my whole life. I am so grateful for the Wild Woman Project and for all of you and your shares.
P.S. Sarah “Tiggy” Houldsworth – your share about wild swimming in the cold, salty, grit has really inspired me!!! I recently moved to the beautiful Pacific Northwest (Washington State in USA) and I want to challenge myself to be as bold and embracing of nature as you are. I can do it. Thank you.