PLUG & PLANT: The Smart Vertical Garden

Last year I shared a fantastic TedX Talk by Fernando Ortiz of VertialGreen. Fernando starts his talk by googling "Paradise" to show us what comes up: pristine nature scenes. It's mindboggling to think that we had paradise and then developed it away. This fantastic company is dedicated to bringing nature back into our lives and making us more conscious of how vital nature is to our survival. Unfortunately this project didn't meet the Kidckstarter goal, but you can the visionaries here: www.verdevertical.com.mx/eng/index.html! 

PLUG & PLANT: The Smart Vertical Garden - Allows anyone to grow plants anywhere; it’s the easiest way to integrate nature into your everyday life. Allows Users To Plug In 12+ Plants, Water Once A Month, and Watch It Grow. 

New York, New York September 9, 2015. Vertical Green, LLC is announcing the launch of Plug & Plant, the all-in-one planting system with a modular design that lets you interconnect its components to transform any space into a natural ecosystem. Simply plug plants into a panel and watch them grow. The Plug & Plant comes with five parts - panel, plugs, smart sensor, smart water tank, and canal. Users simply hang the panel on a sunny wall and place 12 plugs into each panel. Each plug contains the seeds and nutrients needed to make the plant grow, then accesses water from the smart water tank through a smart bio-foam. The Plug & Plant smart sensor continuously measures the environmental factors - including temperature, light conditions and the moisture of the smart bio foam - sending an alert to the user’s accompanying app with instructions on how to care for their plants. Users need only fill the smart water tank once a month as it supplies the plants with the exact amount of water needed through a dripping system; it only takes 10 minutes per month. Finally, the canal is placed in the lower part of the panel to catch all excess water, recycle that water, and keep your Plug & Plant system clean and dry.

We created Plug & Plant for those who love nature but don’t have the means to enjoy it. It’s a practical and beautiful way to get in touch with nature.” Fernando Ortiz, CEO

Available Plants. Vertical Green 
will initially offer more than 30 different types of plants for Plug & Plant.
 These will include culinary species such as lettuce and
tomatoes, decorative flowers and other colorful plants,
 and even plants with medicinal purposes like chamomile and thyme.

Here are Plug & Plant's Awesome Features:

SMART: PLUG & PLANT is a smart vertical garden because its innovative sensor measures the humidity of the bio-foam, room temperature and the amount of light received. 

INTERLOCKING: Thanks to its geometry, PLUG & PLANT achieves a 100% modular system which allows you to easily connect the panels horizontally and vertically
.

SOCIAL: The PLUG & PLANT APP makes it easy for you to share the status of your plants on social media and establish relationships with PLUG & PLANTERS near you 


AUTOMATED WATERING SYSTEM: the PLUG & PLANT SMART WATER TANK is in charge of maintaining your plants with water for up to 30 days. 


DISPOSABLE PLUGS: You can choose between more than 30 different species of PLUGS to make a culinary, decorative or medicinal smart vertical garden. Each PLUG contains high quality seeds that start to grow in the SMART-BIO-FOAM as soon as the PLUGS are connected to the panel. The plants continue growing until their roots also connect to the panel, enabling them to achieve optimal growth. 


EASY-TO-INSTALL: Installing your PLUG & PLANT is so easy that any person can do it, you just need a flat vertical surface with lighting and 10 minutes to install it. 


UNLIMITED GROWTH: The hydroponic growth technology of the PLUG & PLANT allows the seeds of the pre-seeded PLUGS to grow rapidly and without restrictions, thanks to our SMART- BIO-FOAM that connects to the panel 


AESTHETIC DESIGN: The PLUG & PLANT is designed with a clean and neutral aesthetic that allows any user to easily incorporate it in diverse spaces. 


CLEAN AND SUSTAINABLE: 100% biodegradable SMART-BIO-FOAM which allows the plants roots to develop the same way as they would in soil, without the soil. 


VERSATILE: The PLUG & PLANT is designed to adapt to your needs. That’s why its modular system allows your smart vertical garden to be as large or small as you wish. 


Unfortuantely this project was cancelled; it didn't meet the goal. You can contact the creators here (LINK)

Here's a video to get you started!

(Pixels courtesy of my mischievous computer)

***

Regina Chouza is an energy healer, angel medium and the author of A Personal Guide to Self-Healing, Cancer & Love and Chakra Healing & Magick. Blogging at Diary of a Psychic Healer since 2010, her passion is bringing the qualities of love, joy and empowerment to healing pursuits. Read her books to unlock your intuition. 

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> Español: @AngelMedium33

11 Ways to Bring More Joy into Your Life

There are Oracle Decks that I use for readings, and others that I turn to for inspiration and healing. Stewart Pearce’s beautiful Angels of Atlantis deck falls into the second category. The messages are inspired by Archangels like Michael, Gabriel, Raphael and Uriel - who I know from psychic school. Each card has a bright orb for us to meditate on, and broad themes involve feelings like joy, healing, peace, and abundance. I like to use these cards as meditative prompts and this Tuesday, they were also the source of inspiration for my radio show. I wasn’t sure what to talk about and I pulled a card for inspiration: Joy. 

The result was a list of ten simple things that we can all do to bring more joy into our lives. Joy is said to be the purest and highest emotion, for some, even higher than the energy of love. 

Here are eleven simple ways to bring joy into your life:

Spend Time with People you Love:  What else is there? The rest of the tips help us refocus the mind on happiness 🌻

Smile More Often.  When you smile, the world smiles back. The benefit is two-fold: being surrounded by friendly faces has been proven to affect our brain in a good way. And smiling often also fools our brain into thinking we are happy, releasing feel good chemicals that help us feel happy. Note: I’m not sure of the science behind this but based on personal experience, smiling makes me happy.

Get Some Exercise. Go for a jog, dance a little salsa or run up the stairs if that’s all you have time for. Working out is a great way to release stress. It also helps us feel better, releasing endorphins that make us happy. And to quote Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde, “Happy people don’t kill their husbands”

Meditate. I started meditating on joy, peace and happiness after reading a book called The Essential Dalai Lama. Close your eyes for a minute, listen to your breath and picture gold or yellow light around you. I also like to call on Archangel Jophiel for help. Jophiel can help us change our outlook so that it is more optimistic. He’s one of my favorite angels and I feel his energy as yellow.

Count Your Blessings. Sometimes things go wrong and that’s all there is to it. But even when it feels like we are starring in a tragic-comedy, we can still cheer ourselves up by turning our attention to the things we have to be grateful for. Volunteering can make these blessings very obvious too. If you’re reading this online, someone in the world is getting by with less than what you or I have.

Let Things Slide. We all have our buttons and they get pushed. What bothers me may not bother you, and vice versa. The next time someone says or does something that rubs you the wrong way, consider giving them the benefit of the doubt. Look inward for any triggers that may need to be healed. That said, I wouldn’t discount the importance of self-respect, so drawing a line is important.

Switch Off Your Phone and sit in nature for a while. Or hangout with friends. Act like it’s the 80’s and your troubles and to-do-lists are not in your pocket.

Be Yourself. Living up to expectations doesn’t feel good, whether those expectations are real or self-imposed. Don’t apologize for who you are, what you do, or who you love. Be yourself and let the right people find you. You can heal your sense-of-self and shine bright by focusing on the Chakras, especially the Solar Plexus, and by grounding yourself in love (Read my book. Chakra Healing & Magick). 

Put the Past Behind You.  Life is full of ups and downs as well as plenty of life stages that eventually come to an end. It can be tempting to look back to the past with nostalgia, especially if we have been through a difficult ending. But we can only find joy if we appreciate the present and embrace the future. Heal yourself to let go; it’s not about forgetting the past. 

Be Willing to Forgive. It will give you peace of mind. It is said that holding a grudge is like letting someone live rent-free in your head. When we forgive we give ourselves a break, whether or not we also give second or third chances.

Enjoy the Moment. One of my favorite books is A New Earth, by Eckhart Tolle. It tells us that when we are faced with a tough situation that can't be changed, we can make the conscious choice to tolerate it until it passes. The next best thing is to enjoy yourself, after all, even rough patches have good times. And when things are going great appreciate your good luck and en-joy yourself!

***

Manifesting Tip! The happier we feel, the easier it is for us to create situations that we want to experience. Listening to songs that put us in a good mood is a great shortcut (though it always helps to heal yourself, too). Read This to Manifest with MUSIC! 

Finally, that clip from Legally Blond.

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Reiki hugs, Regina 

Image: canva .com (updated 2025)

Understanding the Difficult Tarot Cards

Every now and then I'll read cards informally for a friend (if my tarot deck isn't in my bag, I also happen to have the iPhone app). They are usually quick to ask a question, with the caveat:

"But don't tell me if you see anything bad in the cards!" 

Thankfully I've never been the bearer of bad news and more often than not, the cards talk about blind spots we have at the moment. Is there anything missing from your approach or assumptions? How can we change our behavior to find ourselves in happier circumstances. 

For example, one of the most common questions is "when will I get a boyfriend" or "when will my finances improve" and rather than give a date, the cards might tell you to work on your self-love first, or be more mindful of expenses. If a new job is on the horizon, we can also get a glimpse of that, though I always ask what you can do to make the most of the opportunity. Being ready and prepared makes a huge difference. 

That said, there are a few cards with imagery that can "scare" us if we are not familiar with the deeper meanings. Doreen Virtue's Angel Tarot are great for beginners as they convey the messages without using the traditional images. I still prefer the original decks because the so-called scary images can highlight parts of our shadow that are waiting to be acknowledged. 

With that in mind, here is my take on some of the difficult cards: 

Death:  Let´s call this the Rebirth or Regeneration card instead of the Death card, as it´s usually about life stages coming to an end and the grief that comes with those endings, whether its a college graduation, moving to a new city or even getting divorced so that we can reinvent ourselves. It's not necessarily a card to be scared of. If we are in a tough spot, the death card tells us that current and potentially unpleasant situations will come to an end soon. Sometimes it will also tell us that salvaging a situation isn´t worth the effort. 

Judgement: This is one of my favourite cards even though the images are dramatic and a little bit spooky. In the Judgement card we see a graveyard waking up, as half a dozen people awake from their tombs in response to the sound of an Archangel´s trumpet. The images in Tarot are always symbolic, and this is about us hearing the call of our soul and awakening to our Higher Calling. The physical body represents our attachment to the ego-driven material world, and the awakening happens when we realise there´s more to life than ¨things¨

Nine of Swords: This is one of the scariest images, but it also happens to have the most reassuring message. In the Nine of Swords we see a young woman sitting up in bed at night, crying into her hands. Nine swords hang over her head. The suit of swords represents our thinking skills and mental acuity, and here its about constant worrying, losing sleep over our troubles, and how we can make things out to be worse than they are. When this card comes up, I see it as a sign to chill out, get some sleep and come back to the problem when you are rested. Also, the things we are worried about are not likely to happen =) 

The Devil: Here we see a big, ugly devil holding a man and a woman hostage. They are chained to the devil, in sharp contrast to the lovers card where we see the same pair in the Garden of Eden. This is about obsessive thoughts, fear, worry, being a slave to our job and making choices based on fear instead of trust, love or self-confidence. If this card comes up, ask yourself what you would be doing if fear or lack were not obstacles. Its also about facing our inner demons (fears), our shadow side and embracing the things we are ashamed of. 

Three of Swords: Another tough one ... the image shows a big romantic heart being pierced by three swords. It's a heartache card, and it usually comes up when a person has been severely disappointed or hurt. It is often associated with miscarriages or premature endings. Lately I have seen it as a Three Musketeerrs card, where we are there for our friends in good times and bad. There are three swords, indicating strength and comfort in numbers. If this card comes up, the suggestion is to reach out to others for help, support and healing. 

The Hanged Man: Here we see a man suspended upside down from a rock or a tree. This is the self-sacrifice card, where our needs will be met but not until others are taken care of. The image makes it look like the Hanged Man has been left to starve on the mountainside and that might be what it feels like. It´s just asking us to be patient for a little while before we get our share of the treasure. 

If you would like to learn to read tarot, there are beginners' decks that go through it in enough detail so that it makes sense, but isn´t overwhelming. I like the classic Rider-Waite and Kim Arnold's Hay House Basics Tarot book. Funny thing is I have more than 10 decks and I really dig Kim's take on the cards. I keep her book in my purse and often sneak a peak when I'm out and about. 

The more familiar we become with the cards, the easier it is to receive messages from our subconscious. I learned the meanings years ago and have gone on to develop my own interpretations. More often than not, it's about quieting the mind for a minute and asking yourself how you feel when you look at the image. 

Here is an example reading: The Dark Forrest. 

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Reiki hugs, Regina 

  

Manifesting with the Moon (Witchy Birthday)

Two weeks ago my cousin threw herself a "meditation" to celebrate her birthday. It coincided with the Full Moon in Pisces. There were about seven of us there. The birthday girl enlisted her meditation teacher to lead the session. We started with a group meditation where we visualized the birthday girl filled with love and blessings. 

The evening was clear, we also did a Full Moon meditation. Both Kabbalah and astrology tell us that the universe’s gifts come to us through the Moon. No wonder witches and healers have been feeling the pull for centuries. My cousin’s birthday was on the Full Moon, so we set the intention to release any blocks that keep us from receiving abundance. Had it been a New Moon, we would have set the intention for blessings to grow over time. Same as my astro magick class!

It was nice to meet a group of healers that night; it’s one of the things I have missed. 

Reiki hugs,

Regina 

The 12 Zodiac Signs 🌤️

Astrology is a fascinating subject. One of the easiest places to start is with the Elements in your chart: how much Fire, Water, Earth and Air do you have? The Elements shape your personality.

In my case, most of my planets are in Earth and Air signs which makes me very practical, analytical and logical (believe it or not!) though my saving grace is Mercury in Pisces, putting the planet of communication, ideas and writing in a very intuitive and creative sign that can, at times, be easily distracted by the watery world of the fish. 

It is a good thing I have a ton of planets in the Earth sign of Virgo, grounding that spacey energy. Nevertheless I'm still lopsided when it comes to the Elements so I have taken to wearing crystals that balance me out by adding Fire and Water to my energy field. My latest discovery have been red coral mala beads, with both fire and water. We can integrate what is missing.

Keep reading for an overview of the Zodiac. And check out the Astrology Tab for an intro to natal astrology readings. 

The Fire Signs

One of the things I love about astrology is how it overlaps with Tarot (another love of mine). In the cards, the suit of Fire represents inspiration, passion, drive and the impetus to pursue our goals and dreams. Self-starters have a healthy dose of fire in their energy. You could say it's representative of the Sacral Chakra as it reflects our spiritual & physical desires, and how we go about satisfying them. 

Aries. Arguably the most impatient and driven sign of the zodiac. Aries knows what it wants as soon as it sees it, and it wants it yesterday. If obstacles get in the way however, Aries energy loses interest (or confidence) and goes elsewhere. The first sign in the Zodiac, Aries is good at kicking off new projects. Ruled by Mars, the planet of action and assertion, Aries gets things going. 

Leo. This one makes me think of Mustafa from the Lion King: majestic, royal, a heart of gold though sometimes a bit imposing like any king. Leos take pride in family, home and their place at the heart of it. Comfortable in the limelight, a healthy dose of Leo energy can result confident leadership skills. Ruled by the Sun, Leo tells us where we can shine in our lives - enjoying it! 

Sagittarius. Represented by the Archer, our dear Sagg's are always pursuing new horizons, whether geographical or philosophical. A very intuitive sign, they follow their passions, their flashes of inspiration and come home with amazing stories and insights that will ultimately benefit their community. Ruled by Jupiter, the planet of good fortune and expansion, Sagg is a lucky adventurer. 

Let's Get this Started (BEP)

The Water Signs

Water is all about feelings, emotion and intuition. It's feminine energy is perhaps best expressed by one of my favourite songs Las de La Intuition - by Shakira =) 

It is not a logical element, but still one that can be as accurate as math or statistics, even if our water signs might not be able to tell you how they arrived at their conclusions. They just know, processing information subconsciously. Being a very sensitive element, water signs are also likely to be empaths and the feelings they sense in others can lead to confusion. 

Cancer. Ruled by the Moon, Cancerian energy is intuitive, a bit elusive, a gifted homemaker and nurturing. A strong boundary is also drawn around the family, whether it be a biological family or a broader group. The Crab puts up defenses when it feels threatened, retreating into its shell. Hard shell, tender on the inside and sometimes moody. 

Scorpio. Ruled by Pluto, the planet of power, creation, death and transformation, Scorpio may be the most powerful, loving and intimidating sign in the Zodiac. It's impossible to fool a Scorpio, and don't even think about betraying them because the Scorpion's tail can be lethal. That said, Scorpio heals by shining a light on the truth and by embracing our shadow side fully. For this reason, it may also be the most accepting, standing by us in our discomfort. 

Pisces. We've finally touched on the very last sign in the Zodiac: the Fish. Highly intuitive, Pisces is ruled by Neptune, the planet of Cosmic Awareness, sacrifice and oneness. The lack of boundaries experienced by Pisceans means they carry the emotional weight of the world on their shoulders, often mistaking other people's problems for their own. Pisces can play the role of the victim, martyr or the rescuer. Of all the signs, Pisces benefits most from grounding and shielding their energy. 

Las de La Intuition - Shakira

The Air Signs

Air is about thoughts, speech, communication and ultimately, how much time we spend analysing and discussing our options. Too much air can bog us down if we overthink things (Libra, I'm looking at you) though it can also keep us from exploring the depths of life if we are too easily distracted (Gemini). Obviously, as the visionary in the Zodiac, Aquarius can do no wrong (as if!).

Libra. Most of us count at least one Libra amongst our friends. A very tactful and fair sign, Libra looks after other people's interests as much as their own. It's also ruled by Venus, the planet of love, friendship and social functions. This can make Libra very popular, they cherish relationships, but weighing pros and cons for all involved can be a show stopper, as we can't make everyone happy. 

Aquarius. Ruled by Uranus, the planet of disruption, equality and technology, Aquarius loves the information age. Often described a eccentric thinkers with wacky ideas, Aquarius can be tempted to rebel just for the sake of it. The challenge can be to work with others on gradual & profound changes. 

Gemini. Ruled by Mercury, Gemini is a quick and versatile thinker. Rooted in the element of air, the planet of communication moves as fast as a pinball machine. Gemini loves learning and can go back and forth between several topics. Its a dynamic sign that can come across as being scattered at times. 

 

One Week, by Bare Naked Ladies

Only an Air Sign can Talk this Fast!

The Earth Signs

The qualities of Earth are fairly obvious; it grounds us in the physical and material world, helping us become more conscious of our surroundings, our physical health as well as the work ethic and effort that can help us flourish on the earthly plane. There are three earth signs, each ruled by a particular planet.  

Capricorn. This is the work horse in the Zodiac. If Capricorn was voted most likely to succeed in school, it was because of his (or her) unwavering effort rather than the "charisma" of Leo. Capricorn finds a sense of security in material and economic success, giving them the determination to climb a mountain no matter how long and arduous the terrain be. Capricorn is ruled by Saturn, the planet of reality checks, boundaries, limitation and earned success. 

Taurus. Ruled by Venus, the planet of love, beauty and friendship, Taurus is represented by the Hierophant in tarot. The mythical custodian of our traditions, belief systems and social structures. Taurus energy is slow and steady, with a deep appreciation of comfort, but also a very strong and practical work ethic.  

Virgo. Meticulous, perfectionist, helpful, and friendly are just a few words that we can use to describe the qualities of Virgo. Ruled by Mercury, the planet of communication, Virgo is good with with concepts, choosing their words carefully and with great attention to detail. Virgo energy is also health conscious, looking at nutrition, exercise, and how specific lifestyle changes lead to good health.  

Gold Digger by Kanye (Cover)

The Shadow Side of Earth???  

 

One Last Note On Elements

It is worth mentioning that we have all 12 Zodiac signs in our natal charts, even if we don't have many planets in a specific Element. You can run your birth chart at www.astro.com to find out what Elements are strongest in your chart. So for example, I have most of my planets and luminaries in Earth and Air, with hardly any in Fire or Water.  Though I am pretty intuitive, possibly because Moon & Pluto are squaring off in my natal astrology chart. With this in mind, I have been working with crystals to balance out my personal energy. 

And one for the road ...

2025 Update: You'll find a guided meditation to Integrate your Planets on Youtube.  

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Reiki hugs, Regina