As we all, inevitably, feel the shift towards gift giving this holiday season, I know many of us are feeling stressed. This is a usual holiday feeling, but everything this year has been amplified by the craziness in our world (I don’t think I need to mention names, right?).
Perhaps your gift giving list is short this year, by design or necessity. Perhaps the idea of gift giving feels incongruent with the challenges or awakening you’ve experienced this year. This year I wanted to focus on creating a gift guide that would support the journey of embodiment for women (and men); a collection of gifts that I would feel good about giving at any time.
What does embodiment mean? It can look so many different ways, but at the heart of it we are talking about being able to inhabit our body fully in present moment time.
Each of the items on this list help cultivate embodiment through the key elements; ritual, pleasure and presence. Every item is something I use, love and recommend. Some of these products have affiliate links, but not all!
My Favorite Body Care Products
CBD AND BOTANICALLY INFUSED WELLNESS & INTIMACY PRODUCTS FROM FORIA WELLNESS
My absolute favorites is their Awaken Arousal Oil – not only is this sensational and pleasure-enhancing, it is also very soothing and relaxing to the pelvic floor muscles, which has helped me release pelvic floor tension. When you’re nervous sex is going to make things worse, this can be a lifesaver!
They also have a CBD + Botanicals Intimacy Vape Pen and CBD + Cacao Bath Salts. I absolutely love this company – from the way they source their ingredients to their unique focus on wellness & relief in the intimacy space. I use many of their products for menstrual and pelvic floor discomfort, and have recommended to clients as well. A lovely treat for yourself or a friend!
PURE, EFFECTIVE FACE AND SKIN CARE FROM PRIMALLY PURE
This company has won me over. I love their approach to skin care – only pure, high quality ingredients, and fewer of them… allowing nature to do what it does best – heal and support. I’m obsessed with their cleansing oil, their plumping serum, and the plumping mask.
These would make an amazing gift for your sister, friend, mother (ps, my husband uses them too). They have various collections, as well as a dry shampoo, deodorant and face rollers (an ancient practice for radiant, youthful skin!)
INTIMACY CRYSTALS FROM YONI CRYSTALS
You may have seen me talk about these lately… and maybe you’re feeling curious! Yoni crystals combine the use of therapeutic gems and minerals with an ancient female practice for transformative sexual healing and self empowerment.
I’ve curated a special collection of Yoni Wands and Yoni Eggs with the company Yoni Crystals, and these crystals have become a big part of my personal sexual health and exploration. These crystals are ethically sourced, handcrafted and selected for their unique healing properties. I recommend starting with a Jade Egg and a Star Rose Quartz Wand, but you can read about the properties of each and choose for yourself! These make an excellent gift for a friend who is exploring embodiment, sexuality and healing.
My Favorite Books for Embodiment
THE BODY KEEPS THE SCORE by Bessel Van Der Kolk
The B-I-B-L-E on all things trauma, nervous system and how we heal.
WILD FEMININE by Tami Lynn Kent
A powerful exploration of our inner landscape and how to reclaim our wild essence as women.
CALL OF THE WILD by Kimberly Johnson (coming out April 2021… pre-order!!)
Haven’t read this one yet but have pre-ordered…. Kimberly Johnson is wisdom embodied and this upcoming book on how we heal trauma and awaken our power is going to be GOOD.
WOMEN WHO RUN WITH THE WOLVES by Clarissa Pinkola Estes
Want to read incredible and ancient stories of the powerful archetypes of the feminine? Do not pass go, do not collect $200.
DESIRE MAP PLANNER by Danielle LaPorte
A badass way to merge intuition, desire, productivity and manifestation in one beautiful, inspiring package. With weekly and daily layout options, this “planner” will move you past rote patterns around scheduling and time management into a more intuitive way of being and doing.
TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR FERTILITY by Toni Weschler
If you or someone you love is on the journey of quitting hormonal birth control and want an embodied approach to fertility and birth control, this book is the one.
THE FOURTH TRIMESTER by Kimberly Johnson
For anyone who is pregnant or considering becoming pregnant, this book will completely re-orient you to the way we are intended to care for ourselves postpartum.
My Favorite Oracle Card Decks
This is a fun category! I use a variety of different tarot and oracle card decks in my personal intuition/discernment practice, and sometimes in my work with clients as well! These make great gifts for someone exploring their intuition, connecting with the divine and learning to understand archetypal messages and direction.
Here are some of my faves:
EARTH WARRIORS ORACLE DECK by Alana Fairchild
A beautifully designed and powerfully written oracle deck connecting you to traditional wisdom lineages from around the world. I use this when I am looking for guidance about my personal and spiritual growth.
THE FOURTH TRIMESTER CARD DECK by Kimberly Johnson
Daily support, inspiration and wisdom for new mothers – this deck is hands down my go to gift for new moms. It is jam packed with powerful practices and reminders, and so much more accessible than a book for those early months where everything is a blur.
MEDICINE CARDS: THE DISCOVERY OF POWER THROUGH THE WAYS OF ANIMALS by Jamie Sams
If you’ve ever googled “what does seeing bears a lot mean, sorry” and been underwhelmed and irritated by the ubiquitous, cheesy, horoscope-like language you find online, then these cards (and accompanying book) are for you. This is real, powerful, deep wisdom about the ways of animals and how they can be guides for us.
DIVINE FEMININE ORACLE DECK by Meggan Watterson
This deck is just so much YES. Scholar and author Meggan takes her deep knowledge and wisdom of mystical traditions throughout different cultures and captures both the essence of the divine feminine and the pathway to embodying it. Perfect for someone uncovering their own femininity and looking for a place to call home.
My Favorite Courses and Digital Products
CYCLE WISDOM FOR MOTHERS & DAUGHTERS by Moon Daughters
Last year I co-created a powerful course for women with daughters with the incredible Jessica Connolly, mother of 4, coach, doula and herbalist. Cycle Wisdom for Mothers & Daughters is an online course and community for women who want to raise empowered daughters that love their bodies. This would make an incredible gift for a friend or sister deep in the work of raising daughters; or put it on your gift list and share! 🙂
THE WOMB FLOW COLLECTIVE with Mellisa Reeves
A monthly (or annual) membership to the embodiment collective I host would make a great gift for a woman in your life! In the Womb Flow Collective, we explore personal and communal practices for connection, healing, release and embodiment. There are two live guided circles monthly, as well as recorded guided meditations and access to content such as my Embodied Womb Care course.
Fun Little Extras…
ESSENTIAL OILS from Plant Therapy
This is my very favorite company. Having completed extensive aromatherapy training as part of my herbalism program, I am keenly aware of both how powerful essential oils are and how many essential oil companies (*MLMs, cough*) are taking advantage of people. Aromatherapy is relaxing, embodying and deeply healing on not just a physical level, but also spiritual and emotional. After all of my research, I have chosen to purchase essential oils from this company due to their ethical sourcing, high quality distillation, affordability and attention to safe use and education.
Some of my favorites for embodiment are the Relaxation set and the Chakra Synergies set (such a great aid in any intuitive practice!). I also love the Sensual blend and the Love Vanilla blend for intimate moments (diffused).
Well, duh. Nothing feels better after a long day than a soak, and epsom salts take that to the next level. For an easy, inexpensive gift, these epsom salts with essential oils by Dr. Teals are the winner. Did you know that magnesium is a smooth muscle relaxer, and very easily absorbed into the body? So it can help with not just external aches and pains, but with menstrual discomfort and digestive imbalance. It is also really helps improve sleep and reduce stress!
It’s silly if you aren’t dry brushing. In addition to the systemic circulatory benefits, there isn’t a better way to get into your body and feel alive! This a sweet and simple gift for anyone you love.
Well, my friends, I hope that this guide offers you some inspiration (whether you choose any of these items or not for gift giving)… and an invitation into some ritual, pleasure and presence as we move into the holidays, whatever that holds.
* This post contains affiliate links to products that I use and trust. When you use these links, I receive a small commission (thanks for helping me do my work!). If I share something that includes a discount code I may still receive an affiliate commission without affecting the discount offered to you. For my full affiliate disclosure, click here.
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