Thrival Kit: Giving and Receiving with Love
Energize. Nourish. Awaken.
Our FREE Thrival Kit to uplevel with family and friends this month: A month to open our hearts and remember the sacred exchange in life.
A Story from the East Cape of the Baja:
The Moment We Remembered What It Means to Give & Receive With Love
On the final night of our Unleashing Our Warrior Hearts retreat, we honor a ritual we’ve held for five years on the sacred land in the Baja: a cacao ceremony with a beloved shaman whom we have grown to know and love.
After a week of adventure and expansion—from the womb-like darkness and rebirth of the temezcal, to dancing ourselves into new expression, to anchoring our energy and opening our hearts on the yoga mat, to breathwork and breakthroughs, to returning to our primal Nature in the protected Sea of Cortez with humpback whales, enormous schools of jackfish, playful sea lions, and a few curious bull sharks—we gather for a culmination ritual as the sun begins to set.
We sit in circle as our shaman shares the lineage of this plant medicine and the ancestral recipe he recovered—one that gently opens the energetic pathways of the heart, reconnecting us to generosity, tenderness, and the experience of love within us and between us.
There is a tradition in our circle: as each cacao bowl is passed, we say, “I give with love” when offering it, and “I receive with love” when accepting it.
We continue passing bowls until each woman holds her own. At first, the repetition brings a sweetness and a soft laughter—a playfulness in saying the words again and again.
But then something begins to shift.
Our eye contact becomes more connected. The words feel more intentional. For many of us, tears brim as the beauty of the moment lands.
One by one, bowl by bowl, we drop in. A connection moves through all of us. We remember something ancient:
Life itself is a continuous ritual of giving and receiving. And when we bring love into the exchange, everything changes.
So in honor of that night—and in honor of this season—we dedicate December to the practice of Giving & Receiving With Love.
This Month’s Invitation: Give & Receive With Love
Giving isn’t only about gifts.
Sometimes it’s a smile to a stranger.
A kind compliment or encouragement
A moment of presence with another
A shared meal.
Receiving isn’t always easy—especially if giving is more familiar or comfortable.
So this month, we invite you to practice receiving love in simple, everyday ways:
The beauty of nature on a snowy day
A bird playfully soaring overhead
Someone’s genuine compliment
A moment of help or support
Kindness offered in unexpected ways
Giving is powerful.
Receiving is healing.
Both expand and heal the heart.
Both move our awareness toward love.
This is how we feel our hearts, one tiny exchange of love at a time.
A Second Practice for the Month: Heart-Offering Breath
A simple daily ritual to strengthen the pathways of giving & receiving.
Place one hand on your heart and one on your lower belly.
Inhale slowly through the nose, imagining breath filling your heart.
Exhale softly, imagining the breath as an offering—sending love outward.
On your next inhale, imagine receiving love back from the world.
Continue this exchange for 2–3 minutes:
Inhale: I receive with love.
Exhale: I give with love.Gently allow that feeling of gratitude to bathe your heart
As We Move Through December…
May you feel the quiet beauty of giving without expectation.
May you welcome the sweetness of receiving without hesitation.
May your heart remember its natural rhythm—
a rhythm of circulation, connection, and love.
We’re honored to be in this practice with you.
Thank you for being part of this community, this movement, and this shared remembering.
Energize • Nourish • Awaken
From the Heart,
JOIN US this month - Try something new and connect with others who are curious to create more health and healing in their lives.
This month, we’re offering a variety of ways to gather—in-person and online. From weekly somatic movement classes, to workshops, to our digital studio with over 200 practices—you’ll find a space to connect, heal, and shine.
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We are Jill & Jessica – the Shine Sisters – your guides to living your shine every day.
With our 40+ years combined experience in certified dance, yoga, reiki and nutrition ~ we are here to build community, empower from within and help you live your best life!
