Costa Women Blogs

When living in Spain, it’s good to know the ways of the locals to be able to feel like you fit in with the crowd. Here’s a couple of Spain’s most common customs to get you started:   Two kisses – Even for expats who have lived here for years, this one can still be confusing. What most people fail to remember, is that the general rule when greeting or leaving someone in Spain is to give one kiss to each cheek – first their left and then their right. Unlike the British formal greeting, the Spanish take a more personal approach, so don’t feel uncomfortable when someone hits your handshake with a hug and two ‘besos’!   Here’s hoping you’re not an early sleeper, as most Spanish families will tuck into dinner at around 10-11pm at night! With a late lunch and a snack in the afternoon, in Spain it’s completely normal to eat dinner way after the sun sets. With late meals like this, don’t be surprised to see children awake and running around until the early hours when you’re out for dinner in town! Especially in the heat of Summer, most families, even those with young children, won’t settle down until about 1-2am while the parents chatter at the dinner table with a jug of sangria!   The siesta is a Spanish tradition that we are all familiar with. What is usually overlooked, however, is the fact that the siesta isn’t actually used for sleeping. Between 2pm and 5pm, most shops will shut for a rest so that the workers can go home, have lunch and use the time how they please. Despite common assumptions, this time isn’t usually used for the Spaniards to go home and have a mid-day nap! Although, with the strong summer sun, it’s definitely tempting to take a break from the heat and have a snooze on a near by bench, which is something that the older generations enjoy to do for a few hours in the afternoon!   Moving on to the night scene, you probably won’t find a club that shuts before 6am so maybe you should take that siesta for a nap after all! The Spanish love to party, so it’s no surprise to find that while the bars are open until 1am, the clubs only open at around 1am, with the flashing lights and ‘reggaeton’ music playing until dawn! And, the drinks in Spain are significantly cheaper than most other countries, with a substantial bottle of wine being sold for as cheap as €3 and spirit mixers for as cheap as €4.   Forget Friday 13th, in Spain – it’s Tuesday the 13th, so save your broken mirror and black cat worries for another day! The Spanish believe that this day is full of bad luck and there is even a common phrase for cancelling any important events on this date to avoid any damage, “ni te cases,ni te embarques” which means “don’t get married, don’t embark!”(on a trip or a journey).   Now you’re up to speed, you’re ready to hit the towns with a good grasp of typical Spanish behavior. Don’t forget, when you’re greeting your Spanish friends, the two kisses to the cheek are always left and then right!

Have you ever been surrounded by people and still felt lonely? Have you ever stayed in a beautiful location but felt unhappy?  You want to feel FREE, independent and BELONG wherever you are. Here’s how you can change from feeling ‘disconnected’ to feeling ‘connected’ and belonging! Each time I travel to a new country, away from family and friends, I don’t feel lonely, because I learned how to connect easily. Watch this video and find out.   Find Free resources below each video Share your experiences in the comments Happy Journey!  

  Based on our own Awakening experiences my sacred friends and myself came together these last 4 years to write a 3 part series of our True Awakening Experiences (that are below to freely download)… with the soul intention to help inspire and support Humanity as hearts begin to naturally Awaken in preparation for Embodied Ascension right here on the physical Earth plane.   As each heart begins to open we begin to realise what is naturally happening… how humanity is naturally awakening after a long and hard Human existence, to fully integrate our Human and Divine aspects… to welcome and embrace all our fears and pains, which have served us individually and as a society well and allow for their release and transformation to new potential that ensures we experience a multi-dimensional life of unity, harmony and celebration.   Enjoy downloading and reading our stories below… and know that it is the most beautiful feeling when you allow yourself to consciously open your heart and receive your sovereign light and highest potential.   It is a most magnificent journey of integration and transformation to fully enjoy. To observe and be aware of your Humanness reuniting with your Divinity and together, as One Body Consciousness, you step into a new space of acceptance, reverence and trust and venture out as a new standard, a new energy pioneer… living your passion, your grand dream… creating your hearts desire and a harmonious community for you to sing and dance in infinite joy. True Awakening Experiences Part I ©2014 True Awakening Experiences… Part II ©2016 True Awakening Experiences… Part III ©2018                                                                                     Enjoy listening to my true Love story… my journey reuniting with my Divinity.   Barbara Franken… Creative Visionary & MasterCreatorInspiring New Energy Consciousness A paperback and Digital Book is available from all Major online stores… Amazon and Apple   I share my own magical journey, exploring Who I AM with the help of nine Elemental Beings and expand from a world of fear, struggle and limitation into a New Energy Consciousness of love, grace and freedom. It is in this loving space that I discover my Divine and ALL LOVING self and allow myself to integrate together as one Body Consciousness… a DivineHumanBeing… and Magnificent Master Creator who expresses and creates heart and soul passion on the physical plane and beyond. Join my MasterCreator Class and emerge yourself in the celebration of life through dance, song, art, relaxed inner journeys and beyond everything known… preparing yourself for your NEW role on New Earth.   There is no time like the present moment to Sign Up and give YOURSELF this magnificent gift… More Info: MasterCreator Class     All the money raised from my books and classes go to my non-profit association The Magnificent Consciousness that holds free local projects in Benalmadena, Spain.T

The Easter period is known in Spain as “Semana Santa” the Holy Week and is the most religious holiday in the country. Spaniards walk the streets, enrobed in traditional gowns and surrounded by parade floats and marching music. Semana Santa is widely respected by the Spanish and is celebrated through what’s known as “penance processions” and brotherhoods called “nazarenos” march through the towns, carrying a large cross as part of a tradition that dates to as early as the Middle Ages. As a member of the Semana Santa processions, you must wear the traditional “capirote” which is a tall hat, shaped like a cone and covering the face. The robes were originally worn by those marching through penance, to hide the faces of the sinners. In addition to this costume, women can also be seen wearing black lace high above the head. Last year, Alicante issued a dress code that stated that the traditional penance-wear did not include red lipstick or skirts above the knee, highlighting the regulations for women who wish to take part in the processions. Floats festooned with flowers and candles are paraded throughout the towns, usually from the church to the city cathedral, most of them featuring statues of Jesus or Mary. In Andalucía, you will find the region’s flamenco history seeping into the processions, especially in Seville, the city that holds one of the greatest festivals for this religious holiday. “La Madrugada” is a series of festivals which takes place during the night of Maundy Thursday to the morning of Good Friday and is a key highlight to the holiday – watch out for balcony spectators dancing and singing to the “saetas”, the Spanish religious songs. Zamora, a city close to the Portuguese border, has held Semana Santa celebrations since 1179 and sees the population increase by five times during the festive week with up to 300,000 people travelling to the area to see the home of Spain’s oldest recorded Semana Santa celebrations. Salamanca holds festivals which date back to hundreds of years ago with the earliest penance processions being held in 1240 and today, more than 20 brotherhoods organise 16 processions throughout the city. While Easter eggs are growing increasingly popular in Spain, the traditional snacks of this festival period consist of sweet treats such as “Torrijas” which are baked breads soaked in milk and egg, to then be fried and coated in sugar and lathered in honey. “Pestiños” are sesame flavoured donuts, fried and glazed with honey and sugar and they are another popular treat loved by the Spanish, especially during Semana Santa. The week of Semana Santa is adored by Spaniards all over the country and if you find yourself taking a stroll through the villages or cities of Spain, you’re likely to come across one of these traditional celebrations, so why not take a look and embrace the festivals that have been cherished for centuries?

Chronic Pain patients are far more likely to be women.  Women take, on average, 7 – 10 contacts with medical professionals to receive appropriate pain medication (3 for men!) If a woman has any history of depression or other mental illness that time escalates dramatically.  Pain becomes chronic after 12 weeks – assuming 1 week between visits . . . . This is hardly surprising.  Conditions like migraines and fibromyalgia have a much higher incidence of female sufferers and much higher incidence of mishandling. Female conditions such as endomitriosis are . . . . even more disheartening.  Historically we have only done medical testing on men (due to quite legitimate concerns on impact on fertility). Which means we are only just learning how these pain mechanisms work in women (some research suggests it is quite different).  All of this means that women can often feel dismissed, feel they are “making it up”.  You aren’t.  I haven’t read all of this yet but I am finding some of these new perspectives very interesting in light of the patients I actually see and the stories I hear. https://longreads.com/2019/03/14/women-and-pain-a-reading-list/  If you have been in pain for a long time and are sick of being considered “crazy” or “melodramatic” or “a drama queen” then we may be able to help.  Estelle Mitchell – Musculoskeletal Specialist and Chronic Pain Specialist. 

  You’re wondering why you feel like you’ve lost all zest for living, the excitement, drive and passion you used to eagerly follow… playing your roles of husband/wife, homemaker, mother/father, bread earner pleasure seeker… experiencing life’s ups and down and learning from your challenges.   It’s as if all your excitement has disappeared!   You’re now in the prime of your life, observing how your roles and resources are dwindling away… how life is burrowing deeper into conflict… how empty, gloomy and boring life can sometimes feel… even your body seems tired and you wonder how you can grasp back your enthusiasm to experience the grandness of living again!   You come across an article and while reading, something stirs deep within you… you resonate with the message… the energy, it’s as if you sense a light flickering within and a glimpse of joy travel up through your body.   You sense you are well on your way to feeling grand… being the Master and Creator of your life AND in this feeling you know your body and mind will follow suit with complete wellness and the zest for living will be experienced a million fold.   How to Feel Passionate about Life again When you find yourself no longer playing in the field of duality, busy fitting in, finding a way to make everything work, chasing after your reward… money, possessions, acceptance, approval, love… You can sit quietly… breathing calmly and enjoy the peace surrounding you. YES maybe all passion seems to have gone, but you are taking a journey within. Distilling your past experience and preparing yourself for a new adventure.   It may seem empty and boring, but actually you have found yourself in a vacuum of silence… the loving home of your spirit… divinity… the force of love… your core essence that is welcoming you back home after a great experience of ‘being Human’ and helping you distill the wisdom of all your success and failure, the suffering and the joy, the love and fear felt so deeply. Judge not, put all labels aside and allow yourself to feel it all… the ups and downs experienced. Become aware of your breath and allow it to move down from your chest to your tummy. Breath In slowly… counting 3, pushing your tummy out to breathe in more air/oxygen & atoms of love and hold for a heart beat. Breathe Out slowly… counting 3 pulling your tummy in to release your carbon, tensions and fears and hold for a heart beat. If you find yourself feeling scared or fearful… breathe this energy calmly and deeply in and allow your core essence of love to embrace and dissolve the energy… as it is the energy of misinformation… based on a belief that you are lacking and anything but powerful, loving, sovereign and independent from everyone and everything.   This stage of being is going to take as long as it takes for you to welcome back all your fears and yesterdays and stand strong in the knowing that you are truly magnificent and all powerful beyond your imagination.   It is in your allowing yourself to feel this truth and know it without a doubt… Trusting your Human to surrender to the Divine loving presence you are within and prepare for your next adventure… beyond the mind and physical reality… You will begin to feel your true essence of being compassion, joy, excitement, confidence, free expression, power of love, expansion and interconnectedness bubble up and through your body/mind to guide you into a brand new sensational experience of being!     The following two videos are glimpses into just how powerful and magnificent YOU are! Nothing can stand in your way to experience a life of grand magificence but your old beliefs in lack!       Life is an invitation… Are you going to celebrate it with all you’re being?   Barbara Franken… Creative Visionary & MasterCreatorInspiring New Energy Consciousness   A paperback and Digital Book is available from all Major online stores… Amazon and Apple   I share my own magical journey, exploring Who I AM with the help of nine Elemental Beings and expand from a world of fear, struggle and limitation into a New Energy Consciousness of love, grace and freedom. It is in this loving space that I discover my Divine and ALL LOVING self and allow myself to integrate together as one Body Consciousness… a DivineHumanBeing… and Magnificent Master Creator who expresses and creates heart and soul passion on the physical plane and beyond.   Join my MasterCreator Class and emerge yourself in the celebration of life through dance, song, art, relaxed inner journeys and beyond everything known… preparing yourself for your NEW role on New Earth.   There is no time like the present moment to Sign Up and give YOURSELF this magnificent gift… More Info: MasterCreator Class   All the money raised from my books and classes go to my non-profit association The Magnificent Consciousness that holds free local projects in Benalmadena, Spain.