August often greets us with clear blue skies, warm sunshine and gentle ocean breezes. While it still carries the fullness of summer, it also begins to invite us into preparing for the seasonal shift ahead. As the mornings become a little crisper, the evenings arrive a touch earlier and the sunlight takes on its familiar golden glow, nature gently reminds us that change is already underway. Many families may be preparing for the return of school rhythms, work routines or new chapters unfolding. From an Ayurvedic perspective, August is a beautiful bridge between the expansive warmth of summer and the cooler, drier months of autumn. As the landscape gradually loses moisture, our own bodies naturally begin to experience more dryness as well. This seasonal transition encourages the qualities of Vata dosha (dry, light, cool and mobile) to slowly increase. The care you offer yourself in August lays the foundation for how resilient you feel through the months ahead. A little intention now can help make the transition into autumn feel smooth and nourishing. Watch for signs that Vata may be increasing: Dry skin/lips, constipation, gas, bloating, difficulty sleeping, anxious or racing thoughts, feeling depleted or scattered, or recurring urinary discomfort. Dryness can also aggravate Pitta, sometimes showing up as itchy skin or irritated rashes — think of this combination much like a strong breeze fanning an existing fire. Top Suggestions to Stay Well Nourished Throughout August: 🌻Daily or Weekly Oil Massage (Abhyanga): a great way to incorporate self care, healthy fats and support gentle detoxification. Choose oils specific to your skin & constitution. Sesame, Almond or Jojoba oil are all great choices. Avoid coconut as it is extremely cooling. 🌻Begin winding down for bed earlier: the autumn and winter naturally are sleepier seasons - so embrace the cozy nature and cuddle up with an extra blanket & your sweet babe (whether they are earthside or still growing in your womb temple)

& she wants to open the doors wide for everyone to join 🥰 We've had to cancel a couple of our recent Community Calls & it feels especially sweet to gather together again. When we say this call is for everyone, we mean it! Whether you're preparing for conception, pregnant, in the sacred postpartum window, parenting little ones, walking the path as a Birthkeeper or would love the chance to reconnect after Victoria’s time offline; you are warmly invited to join Victoria, LIVE! This is a space to come exactly as you are. To reconnect, be inspired, ask questions, share a moment in community or simply settle in and soak up the conversation. However you arrive, we'll be so happy to have you with us. We truly can't wait to see so many familiar (and new!) faces together again ❤️

As the warmth of summer settles in around us, please receive this note of love. Whether you're growing new life, preparing to welcome your baby or finding your rhythm in the tender days of postpartum, I hope you've found moments to slow down and soak in the beauty that this season offers. In a world that often asks us to keep moving forward, you are invited to pause for just a moment. What have you celebrated lately? Perhaps your baby kicked for the very first time Maybe you've reached another week of pregnancy Perhaps you've navigated a challenging day with grace, or Shared a deep belly laugh with your little one Received a long-awaited night's sleep, or Simply found a quiet cup of tea in the sunshine Each one of these moments matter deeply The journey into motherhood isn't made up only of the big milestones; it is woven from countless small, sacred moments that deserve to be celebrated. We would love to hear from you. We invite each of you to share your moments of joy, gratitude, or celebration from your day, your week or your year so far in the comments below. It would be an honor to celebrate alongside you. 🌊🍉 🌊🍉 🌊🍉 🌊🍉 🌊🍉 🌊🍉 🌊🍉 🌊🍉 🌊🍉 We will see you next week, July 23rd, for the next Live Community Call

This month, Luminous Births' feature class is: Choosing Your Birth Witnesses from Module 1 Birth is not a performance, nor is it a social gathering. It is one of the most intimate, vulnerable, sensual and transformative experiences you may ever know. In this months feature class, Victoria will guide you through what it truly means to choose your birth witnesses. Victoria will offer thoughtful reflections and questions to help you discern who can truly support, protect and witness your unfolding with presence and respect. You will be invited to set aside the stories, expectations and cultural narratives you’ve internalized about birth; just for a moment. This offers space to meet birth as it is: raw, sacred & ceremonial. Birth has long been understood as an entheogenic experience. One that has the potential to bring you home to yourself. The birth space is a temple & deserves to be honored and protected. This is not simply asking, "Who should be at my birth?" Rather, it's an invitation to ask: ✨Who has earned the privilege of witnessing one of the most intimate moments of my life? ✨ You are the living altar. Your body will open. Your heart will open. A new human being will emerge through you. This is more than your baby's birthday. It is your rite of passage. A ceremony of becoming. A homecoming into yourself & a celebration of the love that created this child between you and your partner.

Thank you all for continuing to show up & share your energy in this Village - it is always so heartwarming & inspiring to feel all of you weaving this wisdom out into the world & families of our future. Check the comments to see more about the Ayurvedic key points of July 🌊🍉 Below, is an overview of what July looks like within Luminous Birth Village: 🥝 Thurs July 2nd - Live Community Call 🥝Monday July 6th - Masterclass with Victoria Rose & APPPAH <-- click to register 'Welcoming The New Human: Embodying the Science Through Positioning Relational Love as Primary Care in Pregnancy & Birth" In this session, Victoria Rose invites us to reconsider a quiet but radical idea: that relational love is not a “soft accompaniment” to clinical care, but the primary care itself. Drawing on the science of attachment, neurobiology and epigenetics alongside her work with somatic practice and indigenous traditions, Victoria will offer practitioners and parents a grounded, embodied framework for honoring the baby as a conscious participant from the very beginning — and for recalibrating how we hold pregnancy, birth and the families we serve. 🥝 Thursday July 9th - OPEN to ALL Community Call invite a sister, friend, mama or couple who would benefit from being deeply held in the community. You have directions on how to invite them in your email. Or, you can send them to this link. Feel free to email or message Ashley if you need support with this. 🥝 Thurs. July 16th - Live Community Call 🥝 Thurs. July 23rd - Live Community Call 🥝 Thurs July 30th - VIP Guest Speaker: Matthew Appleton A live teaching where Matthew will dive deep into wisdom expressed in his article, titled “The Influence of Birth Trauma on the Physical and Emotional Well-Being of the Baby”.