Moon Box Review: June

Yay! Another Moon Box review! I cannot express how much I am loving this monthly box! Thus far, it has been my favorite subscription box, so much so I think I am going to continue my subscription, but stop reviewing it each month....unless you guys just want to read them. If so, please let me know in the comments.

This little box was waiting for me when I returned from my trip to Florida. Ah yes...I went to the beach with a friend from college for several days. It was AH-mazing! Wish I was still there! Anyway, back to the Moon Box. As always, I was greeted with an envelope asking me to find somewhere quiet to open the box and explore the contents. Inside the envelope were the information card, June's Strawberry Moon Oracle card, and the informational card on the crystals contained in the box. I really enjoy the Oracle cards each month, which explain the energies of the full moon for the month and contain some beautiful artwork.

Underneath, the first item to catch my eye was the bottle of aromatherapy spray "Son Rain" by Gypsy Soul Organics. It contains cedar leaf, violet, citronella, patchouli, eucalyptus, and galbanum. According to the information card, this aromatherapy spray is designed to remove doubt and fill you with positivity and good vibes. I can honestly say it works. I received some bad news at the doctor this week and this little spray has made me feel better when I notice I am starting to feel depressed. I have used it on myself, in rooms, and even on my bedding and pillows. The violet aroma induces self-love, while the cedar leaf, eucalyptus, and citronella bring healing energy. The galbanum, a very subtle earthy scent, works to help ground and purify. With each spray, I feel more confident that things will be okay and that, despite what is going on in my body, I will get through this.

The next item to catch my eye was the lucid dreaming elixir by Anima Mundi Apothecary. According to the bottle, it is a handcrafted, organic, and vegan lucid dreaming elixir, sleep aid, and third eye tonic. Due to my illness, I have not tried this product yet, but I am very excited to. At this time I am concerned it may interfere with my medication, and because I am ill, it is not wise to try any lucid dreaming or astral projection at this time. This elixir, however, contains Ashwagandha, Kava Kava, and Passionflower, which are all stress relievers and relaxers, Skullcap, which increases dreaming, and Blue Lotus, which has psychoactive properties that aid in inducing lucid dreaming, astral projection, and hedge riding. When I am able to test this product, I will be sure to write a separate, detailed post on my experience. I would like to test this for a full week to give everyone a good idea of how well the product works.

 

Next was the tea and essential oil. Fruits of the Roots put together a stunning tea blend of strawberry, hibiscus, white tea, vanilla, rose hips, and nettle leaf. This tea is very sweet and fruity, making it a wonderful addition to this month's Strawberry Moon. The Moon Essential Oil, blended by Cottage Traditions, contains Clary sage, violet leaf, white sage, lime, blood orange, and lavender. It goes well with the aromatherapy spray.

And finally the crystals! This is one of my favorite things each month. This month's contained a quartz point from Pakistan, Peacock Ore from Mexico, and a large Sodalite crystal from Brazil. Quartz is an amplifier of energy and can be used for just about everything. It works well with other crystals to amplify their energy, making it a great crystal for the Strawberry Moon when you set new goals and intentions. The Peacock Ore is truly stunning. It is brilliant blue and gold with hues of deep plum purple. This crystal ignites creative expression. I will be using it from now on while I work on my grimoire. Sodalite is used to bring things together and in unity spells. This crystal will be great for marriage work.

The day before the full moon, Gaia Collective sent out an email with the full moon meditation. This month's guided meditation focused on embracing your heart, setting new intentions, and filling your life with joy and beauty. These guided meditations are wonderful and excellent for anyone unsure of what to do during the full moon.

***

Since it has been three months, I would like to give you a complete break down of my overall thoughts on this box.

Pros:

• The box is consistent. It always comes with an information card, moon oracle card, crystals, tea, essential oils, full moon guided meditation, and other monthly self-care items centered around the full moon.
• The item quality is great. Every item is worth more than I paid.
• The information card is fantastic. It explains where the items came from and how to use them in your monthly full moon ritual. The crystal information card is great. In fact, I cut them out and place the cards in with the crystals so I always have them for reference.
• Gaia Collective supports local businesses and for every box sold, a portion goes to Trees for the Future, a nonprofit organization dedicated to revitalizing degraded lands through educational programs for farmers and planting trees to create new forests around the world.
• The box and packing supplies are environmentally friendly, so when you are done, it can be reused, recycled, or returned to the earth.
• This box is available! There is no waiting list!

Cons:

• While I loved the consistency, I do not need essential oil every month. I would have liked to see the essential oil replaced with another item occasionally.

OVERALL: 5 out of 5 stars 

Interested in purchasing this box? Check out Cratejoy. They have a large selection of subscription boxes that cover just about everything.

May Moon Box Review

I was so excited to receive my Moon Box by Gaia Collective a couple of weeks ago. I am really enjoying this subscription box, much more than the Box of Shadows subscription. This month's box centered around the Flower Moon.

Upon opening the box I was once again greeted by an envelope asking me to find a quiet spot to open the box. I really like this message because it encourages mindfulness. Half the time when I open mail I simply rip it open, briefly see what is inside and move on. This little note forces me to slow down and enjoy the process. Inside the envelope were three cards: directions, moon oracle card, and crystal cheat sheet. The directions includes not only how to use the products, but where they came from, what the ingredients are, and how to use the items in your full moon ritual. I really like the step-by-step guidance and explanation of each item. It makes the items more meaningful, especially when they come from small pagan businesses. The Flower Moon Oracle card explained this full moon is a time of blossoming, whether in your personal life or career. It is a time to reaffirm goals and set intentions for the future. The artwork is stunning and the information informative. The only issue with this month's oracle card is it says April at the bottom instead of May. I had to double check my calendar to make sure I wasn't an entire month off. Haha! Other than that, this is a card I will hang on to.

 

 

Underneath the card was a small bag of Tropical Bath Soak by Malachite + Elephant. As you can see from the picture I used this product on the night of the full moon. I took gorgeous pictures of everything in this box the day I received it, but accidentally deleted them thinking I had already sent them to my computer. Boy was I wrong! These bath salts smell earthy and calming (scented with vetiver and lavender) and contains bentonite clay which is wonderful for the skin. I should have added the entire package to the bath, but half was enough for me to smell the aroma and have a relaxing soothing bath. As I soaked I felt the day wash away. The aroma helped clear my head and allowed me to focus on the ritual ahead.

To go along with the bath salts was a rose hip see body scrub by From Molly With Love. The scent is subtle but luxurious. I think this was my favorite item in this month's box beside the tea. I love the smell of roses, especially in regards to beauty products. As you use it, the sugar slow dissolves, learning the oils behind to soothe the exfoliated skin. Using this with the bath salts left my skin refreshed and moisturized.

Next was the crystals. This month's box contained red calcite from Mexico, Mangano calcite from Peru, and black tourmaline from Brazil. These crystals are gorgeous and were vibrating with strong energy. As per instructions, I meditated on each crystal. I first focused on the red calcite. It was cool to the touch, but as I meditated the crystal became warm around my thumb only. It glowed orange and made me feel alter and full of energy. This is the perfect crystal for strength, vitality, and stamina. Next was the Mangano calcite. It spoke of self love and calmness. As I meditated my guide, Fox, laid beside me, letting me know I am never alone and very loved. This will be a great crystal for when I doubt my own self worth. The black tourmaline, however, spoke the strongest to me, and I have been carrying it with me to help ground my emotions. While it is commonly used for banishing, it spoke more of power and protection to me. As I held this crystal I watched Fox nip at the heels of Fear and Doubt as they ran away. Things have been less than savory at home and despite the turmoil and the prospect of loneliness, the tourmaline has allowed me to feel more in control.

Next I opened the essential oil and tea. I love that each month comes with a tea specifically blended for the full moon. I am a huge tea drinking and this one was wonderful. I did not drink it the night of my full moon, but later in the week to help calm my nerves. This tea, handcrafted by Fruits of the Roots, contained passion flower, rooibos, hawthorn, holy basil, cinnamon, burdock, and peppermint. The cinnamon was predominant, with the other flavors being subtle. The essential oil, blended by Cottage Traditions was a mix of blood orange, lavender, sweet marjoram, hyssop, black spruce, and peppermint. It is a unique and empowering combination, reminding me of Yule instead of the Flower Moon. However, I understand the connection with growth and personal revolution.

Finally, the day before the full moon, Gaia Collective sends out a guided meditation. I forgot to mention this in my last review as I forgot to listen to it prior to reviewing. This months was wonderful, focusing on inner self. These meditations can easily be incorporated into any ritual or used whenever the time feels right. This personal touch is not something found in many subscription boxes, thus setting it apart from many others.

Overall another WONDERFUL box. I cannot wait to see what next month has in store for me! With next month's review, I will give a complete break down of the pros and cons of this subscription box, but let's just say, I don't have much to say against this subscription!

April Moon Box Review

Well, I finally managed to transfer all my files from the old computer to the new one! Yes, there was quiet a few files to move, especially files relating to the blog. You'd be surprised how much you accumulate in three years of blogging! I figured what better way to come back than with a subscription box review! Everyone loves subscription boxes. This time I decided to try out the Moon Box by Gaia Collective. It costs $30 a month and comes with 3 handpicked crystals, dried herbs or tea, an essential oil blend, a moon oracle card, a featured artist item, and ritual supplies. It is similar to the Box of Shadows, which I really enjoyed. Furthermore, for every Moon Box purchased, they make a donation to Trees for the Future, a nonprofit organization dedicated to revitalizing degraded lands through educational programs for farmers and planting trees to create new forests around the world. The box and packing supplies are environmentally friendly, so when you are done, it can be reused, recycled, or returned to the earth.

April's box came with some delightful surprises. Upon opening is a letter that says, "Before you open me, find a quiet place to be." I settled down at my altar, shut the door, and opened a window to let the music of the birds outside bring peace and harmony to my room. The envelop contained a card on how to use the box, a Pink Moon oracle card, a crystal information card, and a little booklet about Moon Box and Gaia Collective. The oracle card spoke of spring and new beginnings, saying to listen to your heart instead of your ego. It encouraged to reclaim and reaffirm your values and virtues, and take a step back to recenter if need be.

 

Underneath the envelope was some beautifully and sustainability packaged goodies! The first items I pulled out were the crystals. The little bag contained rose quartz, 3 Kyanite wands, and moonstone. I adore moonstone, and was thrilled to add it to my collection. Per the instructions, I decided to meditate on these crystals. I placed them in my left hand, closed my eyes, and let them speak to me. First was the moon stone. It glowed gold and spoke of balance and peace, especially between work and personal life. It told me to stop worrying about the work I have to do, and spend additional time doing when I love, specifically in regards to my spiritual path. Next was the rose quartz. It was cool to the touch and spoke of self-love as it glowed bright pink. It let me know I needed to seek balance in my life and stop putting my love of others before the love of myself. It told me to hold my head high, even when faced with opposition. It spoke of not letting others, specifically my significant other, rule my emotions and view of my self-worth. Finally was the kyanite wands. They were hot to the touch, almost burning. They glowed dark red then purple. They spoke of power, specifically power over my fear and doubts. They encouraged me to put those aside and go forth with confidence, both in my personal and spiritual life. They also spoke of power in my relationship, telling me that I am strong enough to walk alone and not to fear loneliness. They also spoke of balance is speech and emotion, to listen more and control my emotions, specifically sadness, fear, and doubt. I guess it is time for some change. The kyanite was very clear in its intentions. I will be sure to carry them with me for the next couple of weeks to see how they aid me. I've never had a crystal feel so hot to the touch before. They all affirmed what the oracle card stated I should do this month: reaffirm and reclaim my values of strength, perseverance, love, and courage; to stop letting others rule my actions and emotions.

Next I opened and steeped the tea which was hand-crafted by Fruits of the Roots. This blend contains elderberry, nettle, hibiscus, rose, Chanca Piedra, wild cherry bark, and Goji berries and comes with a re-usable muslin tea bag. I am allergic to Goji berries, but it appeared there were only 2 in the tea which is not enough to bring on a reaction. The tea brewed into a brilliantly pink hue, sticking with the theme of the Pink Moon. It smells of and tastes of roses. The flowers lend a delightful sweet undertone without the need of added sweetener.

I then opened the Full Moon Essential Oil Elixir blended by Cottage Traditions. It contains Clary sage, Egyptian geranium, fir balsam, Bulgarian lavender, and vanilla. I spread some on my wrists and and breathed in the aroma. It is relaxing and reaffirming with the smell of vanilla uniting all of the scents.

Next up was the candle. The candled is a hand-poured candle from Soy Much Brighter. It is called 'Full Moon Remedy' and has a very subtle scent of sandalwood, tangerine, and patchouli.  I struck a match and lit it, igniting my intentions to follow the advice of the crystals. I stared into the flame and imagined my intentions coming to fruition.

Finally I opened the Whipped Shea Butter by Body Brewed. It has a very subtle sweet orange and Clary sage scent, and is delicately thick. I rubbed some on my feet in an act of self-love and care. It absorbed quickly and left my feet feeling refreshed and moisturized. They have been aching all week from running and long days on my feet, so it felt wonderful to spend some time rubbing them and thanking them for carrying me through the week.

I ended my box opening ritual with a short meditation. I imagined myself walking through a old forest. I could smell the moss and damp earth and feel it between my bare feet. As I walked I begin to hear water and suddenly arrived at a clear, deep blue lake. I felt the sudden urge to swim and entered the cold water. I lay floating on my back, staring at the sky for some time before diving deep beneath the surface to explore the depths below. When I came up for air I felt refreshed and renewed. I walked to the shore and patted myself off with a towel sitting on a new by rock. I heard a twig crack and looked up to see a white stag standing across the lake from me. As I looked into its eyes I felt a sense of peace and strength and suddenly the meditation was over.

I really look forward to the box that will arrive in May. Unlike the Box of Shadows, this box has an opening ritual which I found divine. The day before the full moon they send out a a recording guided meditation for the full moon. Unfortunately I missed it this time, but look forward to participating next month.