Winter is an optimal time for fostering reflection and contemplation.

After the holidays are over, most of us don't even want to think about giving anymore. But what if I told you spreading the gift of kindness costs nothing at all? Being merry and jolly doesn't have to be a holiday only event—it should be in your heart year-round. Here are seven ways to help spread kindness even after the holiday season (and no, they won't cost you any money).

Soursop is a member of the family Annonaceae or Custard-apple family of the genus Annona L. commonly known as Annona and contains the species Annona muricata L. or soursop. The plant is native to the West Indies and northern regions of South America and can be found today throughout the tropical climates of the world. A Puerto Rican professor renamed the plant guanabana in 1951, adding to its nomenclature.

I once lived on a magical little farm and had a fairy godmother landlord. It was a great place to be an herbalist. But…the house I lived in also housed a small country’s worth  of moths. Some of them hitchhiked with me to my new place, as evidenced by the occasional moth fluttering around the bedroom and holes I sometimes find in my shirts.

Are you interested in eating in a way that nourishes you, others, and the planet? If so, the food sovereignty movement is for you. This movement recognizes that food is about more than just physical sustenance; it’s about people, the planet, and nourishing the soul. I recently had the pleasure of talking with food sovereignty champion Mariah Gladstone, who is actively working to restore and advance Native American foodways. Here’s what she had to say about food sovereignty, how you can get involved, and traditional Native American foods. 

I’ve yet to go for a facial and not get asked about my skincare routine. I avoid harsh cleansers that leave my skin dry and inflamed, but even with holistic toners and moisturizers, blackheads seem to be inevitable. While it can be satisfying to remove blackheads and pop zits, doing so can actually make your skin more prone to breakouts as dirt is transferred from clogged pores to open ones.

Winter, a time when we’re compelled to spend increased time indoors, can leave us feeling a little stagnant. If you’d like a quick pick-me-up, or just something healthy and delicious to eat, check out the grapefruit that’s in season now. The fragrance of grapefruit is energizing, and the fruit is rich in good-for-you antioxidant vitamin C.

The New Moon in Aquarius on February 4 also corresponds with the Chinese New Year of the Pig, which runs from February 5, 2019, until next year’s New Moon in Aquarius on January 24, 2020. The Year of the Pig portends your potential to indulge in fantasy or to impose the rigors of reality on your life. Try to make this year one where you balance between the two extremes.

This week we have Jupiter and Venus coming conjunct to the exact degree in the sign of Sagittarius.  I will discuss how these two planets interact both individually and together and what this can indicate.  I’ll also cast it in the light of the eclipse that is taking place this Sunday, January 20.

The Karmic Tools Weekly Forecast covers the current planetary transits which affect people in different ways and to various degrees of intensity.  Take notice when it is a Personal planet (Sun / Moon / Mercury / Venus / Mars) interacting with a Social (Jupiter/Saturn) or Collective planet (Uranus / Neptune/Pluto).  And pay extremely close attention when it is a Social planet interacting with a Collective planet because that means something *big* is brewing that will move large groups of people along their evolutionary paths. Tun