Years of shifting to a more meaningful and deeply-connected life, my city-girl Self longs to become more connected with nature's rhythms and lessons. One aspect of this connection is in building meaningful, spiritual rituals to celebrate the shifts in Earth's seasons, such as the Winter Solstice. Especially as a parent creating guideposts for my children, I know such connections to be a healing and magical celebration for the soul. (For this reason, I am eternally grateful to have deeply-meaningful rituals built into their school life for celebrations such as Winter Solstice).
What a wonderful year to truly hone this connection to Winter Solstice-- though perhaps coincidental to fall on the same day.....such is the year of 2020! --with a possibility of seeing the Star of Bethlehem for the first time in 400 years! My mind's eye evokes images of wise men journeying to Jerusalem following that miraculous star and finding the baby Jesus. This is a celestial event caused by the alignment of Jupiter and Saturn-- the two largest planets --appearing to shine as one brilliant star (or Christmas star), that we may be able to witness shortly after sunset, low in the southwestern sky. A bit of kismet to bring 2020 to a close and to kick-off a wondrous depth of spirit that is the Winter Solstice. Here is my short list of ways I am honoring the Winter Solstice:
Plus, leading up to this day, the yoga studio where I teach spent 11 days guiding our clients to connect with their inner sun-energy, their warmth and extrovertedness, and their inner digestive fire. Movement along with an embodied concept of our own inner fire (through meditation) sparks the warmth and wisdom innately within each of us. "Everybody is a candle, but not everybody is lit". --Karena Virginia & Dharm Khalsa in Essential Kundalini Yoga. Happy Winter Solstice, Friends! I would love to hear your Winter Solstice stories and traditions. And let me know if you see the star tonight! Much love, peace and gratitude for our amazing, natural world!
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Responsibility.
Response-ability. Response. Ability. What does responsibility mean to you? What does it mean to be responsible? Does it differ in different areas of your life? I keep pondering the belief --which I hold to be true-- that Freedom and Responsibility are two sides of the same coin. We all want "freedom" - to live it in our nation, to feel it in our own bodies, our own lives. The idea of freedom I will come back to. Today (and onward), I want to embody and embrace Responsibility.....whatever that means....... Let's break it down: My ability to respond is my responsibility. Respond to what? My life and the things that are important to me. Things that are True, that hold Integrity, and that does not harm Others. This sounds as it should be true enough for everyone: Your responsibility is to be able to respond to your life and the things--which are True, hold Integrity, and does not harm Others-- that are important to you. Does that resonate for you? What kinds of things are important to you and fit those guideposts of True, Integrity and Does No Harm? Here are 3 points of focus which can be looked at in the detail of your own life:
To live in balance with keen knowledge of MY needs, within MY means, at any given moment and to be able to respond. Technically, this IS self-care. Self-care, living in my truth, being an example of light and meaningful expression of Truth for my family and community and on......these are the things that are important to me that are True, hold Integrity, and does not harm Others. And my ability to respond to these things, within the protective boundaries of balancing my needs, within my means, at any given moment, is the Truth I need to embrace and embody somatically in every cell of my being. Yet still, this is all well & good but could get overwhelming where you feel you have not learned how to manage, digest, and metabolize these things. The "ability" part of it. How do you respond seemingly without the ability? Recognizing the perceived dis-ability is the first step. Think of those who are considered to have a "disability" as is commonly known in society today. Or a "handicap". Some people need help like handrails, wheelchairs or ramps or special technological advancements to assist in speaking or seeing or some other need. Some secure tutors or nurses or other sorts of caretakers. Whatever the situation, ALL are required to look for ways to see beyond their dis-ability and acknowledge where they just need to work a little harder, where they need help and where they can creatively do things differently to balance ability with dis-ability. What are your perceived dis-abilities and how will you see beyond it? Write it down. Assess it. Do the work. This is your RESPONSE-ABILITY. Each of us are responsible for our own response-ability. Together, as response-able individuals, is how we create our own Freedom and how we can promote freedom in our greater world. Digging deep within is where our Truth lies. And our Truth is worth finding-- it is where our salvation thrives, and freedom and responsibility exist on the same coin. #response-ability #dis-ability #freedom #truth #selfcare #responsibility I AM MY OWN BEST ALLY, ADVOCATE, AND ACTIVIST. Repeat, repeat, repeat.
As an ally, I support me. As an advocate, I talk me up. As an activist, I am actively nourishing, profoundly understanding, and pounding the pavement for me. Lest I forget, at times the vehicle does seem to sputter or breakdown, I need only remember the hotline for my AAA servicing.... I AM MY OWN BEST ALLY, ADVOCATE, AND ACTIVIST. I AM MY OWN BEST ALLY, ADVOCATE, AND ACTIVIST. I AM MY OWN BEST ALLY, ADVOCATE, AND ACTIVIST. Believe in yourself. You are enough. What's holding you back?
Nothing. Something..... What's holding you back? (Thinking.....close eyes......searching......breathing....... feeling......). Fear. Fear of what? (sigh) Fear of my hopes, of achieving, of being of great service. Fear of not achieving and staying in my cozy shell of "nothing happens". Predictable. Fear of the physical, internal damage that I fear will arise by holding back, holding in. Fear of my voice. Fear of being misunderstood. Fear of being found out, that I am crap, my ideas are crap....I am insignificant. How does that feel in your body? Like a bottle of nerves being shaken, about ready to burst. Like my cells are suffocating. Except when numbed.... Except when a sudden burst of inspiration brings me a high wave of tide until it subsides.....sometimes to a lower plane. Then I feel sunk. Worthless. How do you want to feel-- what is the opposite of that feeling? Calm and rhythmic ebbs and flows with peaks (from the inspiration) and back to equalized. Steady, even through "the negatives". Well-paced. Soothed nerves and self-assuredness and a feeling of command and acceptance. A patient "knowing" and trust in the creative process. I feel strong and courageous. What will it take to get there? Action. Fear subsides when I take action....steps bring me one step closer. Steps of creation and proof that "I can". Steps that inform me of what comes next. Holding the vision in my heart, but don't look too far ahead (which creates the overwhelm I know all too well). But, I've taken many small steps and the Fear remains....... Ok, a little ongoing, bite-sized fear keeps me motivated to do my best, but....... But......? But...... (close eyes, breathe, feel......) it's THE step I need to take that I'm afraid of. Ahhh, now we're getting somewhere........can you define THE step? Ahhh, yes... I can name it and I can start to look at "the why" and "the how" of it. I just needed to see the block to begin to tear it down. And the fear lessens. The unknown becomes known. Ok, I got this. Thank you, Friend Fear. You're welcome. That's what I'm here for. ❤️ #friendfear #emotionalfreedom I read somewhere that we are often exhausted by the things we DIDN'T DO rather than the things we did do. And honestly I can understand how this is so. When I get things done, I feel energized. When I don't, I feel an invisible pressure or weight that comes with anticipation of things awaiting my attention. Anticipation that is exhausting usually reflects fear, dread, resistance. You can feel it in your body. Usually when there is something I want or need to get done but I feel tired, that anticipation is remedied simply by starting whatever the thing is. Once you start, then the dread and resistance stops and..... you're off! Go, girl, go! And there are essential oils to help you take that first step of starting.... In addition to my Motivate oil, I find that in this time of TRANSITION from summer to schooldays where the rhythm of the house and family shifts dramatically, I need a grounding blend like doTERRA's STEADY®. I am looooovvvving this blend. It has been a welcome alternate grounding blend to Balance®. It is a rollerbottle which includes Amyris, Balsam Fir, Coriander, and Magnolia, and fractionated coconut oil-- a blend made specifically for Kids but I love it as an adult. Give it a try!
During the summer months, our routines shift. And certainly in this time of Covid, other patterns and habits have shifted as well. We can find ourselves overwhelmed by uncertainty and thoughts of the future. We may have become lulled into the unscheduled freedoms of summer-- and that can be a very necessary and useful reboot for us. Yet, that unscheduled schedule is typically not sustainable. We are in need of new rhythms, especially as a precarious school year looms. I'm terrible with rhythms. I'm more of an easygoing, flow by the seat of my pants person. But this practice is truly not easy going. I know that when I DO follow a rhythm, I can be more present because I don't need to worry about the other things I need to do; those things have their own place in my rhythm. Magically, space opens up for me in a way that seems to create more hours in my day and allows for creativity and accomplishment that wakes up my capacities for enjoyment and satisfaction in life, even while doing the seemingly mundane tasks of everyday modern living.
SOMETIMES YOU KNOW WHAT YOU NEED TO DO, BUT IT'S HARD TO GET YOURSELF TO DO IT. Self-discipline is a conscious act. And consciously you can still need help with it. My go-to tool for helping me with this is Motivate® - an essential oil blend by doTERRA. I have a handful of top oils that help me where I need an extra bit of help to do the things I want to do. Days where I feel lazy, overwhelmed or underwhelmed, or paralyzed, I can't tell you how useful Motivate® has been for me.
It's called the "Encouraging Blend" and includes a blend of mint and citrus essential oils. For some reason, it smells like vanilla to me. It is used for enhancing feelings of confidence, courage, and positivity. For me, it just works. How I use it: typically I use the Motivate® Touch, a roller bottle already mixed with a carrier oil, and I dab it at the pressure points on my wrists and behind my ears. I'll keep this near me to reapply as necessary. You can also choose to diffuse it in the air. Let me know if you try it and how it works for you. Get your Motivation on and Enjoy Life!! PS. Right now (August 2020), Motivate® Touch is 15% off. Get this from my store here-- select "Shop" at the top menu bar. It's been a wild first half of the year. A totally unexpected, unforeseeable view of 2020 which, in my mind, started off as a grand plan to adjust our lenses and create 20/20 vision and clarity by harnessing the gifts within us. As I consider all that's happened, how amazing that it actually HAS been a half year of eye-opening, soul-wrenching events to adjust our lenses! Certainly not how I or anyone could have imagined. The urgency and exclamation point underneath the Universe's "vision plan" thus far has been like a rapidly burning fire continually growing underneath our feet, in the pits of our stomachs creating much discomfort, or like a huge, swift kick in the tush. "GET CLEAR NOW!" it seems to be screaming. Some of us are feeling the burns and bruises....and some of us are healing or learning how to heal by first feeling the pain deeply. Others may be hiding or fighting for status quo, nonetheless feeling something. I won't get into the details of 2020 events but to name some of the highlights: Yogi Bhajan (for the kundalini yoga community), Covid-19/Coronavirus, Amy Cooper/Christian Cooper, George Floyd, Black Lives Matter and, subsequently coming from all this, a glaring spotlight on the dark underbelly of America's history (of white superiority and greed) which has created the conditions for a people filled with trauma, conflict, and disconnect. This isn't a statement piece; it is about essential oils.....and the stage is set to deeply focus on Vision. Let's get clear. This is about personal Vision and a deep understanding of who we are and what we stand for.
It is called The Oil of Clarity & Vision. And frankly, I was never a big fan of this oil because it is floral-y. It is interesting though how our tastes change and I'm finding this oil to be so soothing nowadays. Perhaps I really needed it, as the oil "....can assist during a healing crisis when a drastic change of perspective is required". As I question where I am on the issues of today and how I would like to be active in the healing process of our humanity, Clary Sage will support me on this journey. Well-known for its hormonal balance support and relieving menstrual cramps, it is one of the most health-supportive oils. Here are some of its properties:
It's great for increasing blood circulation and soothing the nerves!! Spiritually, it engages my creative, sacral energy and stimulates intuition. How to use: I like to dab a drop behind my ears and massage a drop on my feet along with Frankincense (to enhance the penetration/absorption into the skin) and a couple drops of carrier oil. There are other ways to use this oil as well. How do you use it? What an unusual time we are in-- a pandemic that not only creates feelings of panic, chaos and overwhelm making us feel like we can hardly breathe but literally taking our breath away with its effects on our respiratory health amongst other things. A state of unknowns, mixed messages, and fake news......we need a call for a hero and a remedy. The hero? That is inside you..... simply focus on your breath. The inhale (as your belly expands) and the exhale (the belly contracts). Eyes closed. Search within. Let your Soul guide you. The remedy? How about a reminder to BREATHE..... not just in words (as on the label!) but in its smell that is designed to open up our airways: doTERRA's Breathe Essential Oil. Ahh, take it in..... Where there is darkness, there is also light.
Where there is fear, there is also love. I've heard the encouraging and loving words of parents telling their kids: in the midst of tragedy, look for the people who are helping. In other words, look for the light amidst darkness, the love amidst fear. This idea that there is always love on the other side of fear may not feel clear or even possible when you find yourself feeling fearful. Stressed, anxious, sad, shamed, guilty, angry, scared.....it's all based in fear. (All true and valid emotions, by the way, doing their work to alert you that something is not aligned with you and needs your attention). Whenever I notice -- as soon as I catch myself -- caught up in fear, this is a reminder for me to come to my breath. I have a few go-to breath meditations I like to use but just the very simple: close my eyes and take long deep breaths -is all I truly need. Do this for as long as you need until you feel calm and can respond (as opposed to react) to the fear....and amazingly the Monster Fear becomes a much tamer beast. And in that space, I can look for the Love. To develop the habit of letting fear be a trigger to come to my breath, I made it a conscious daily practice for a number of days in a row to notice the fears popping up in my life-- big and small....there were plenty. The house is a mess and I'm angry at all those who contributed to it. Breathe deeply. My kids are squabbling endlessly over seemingly nothing and I don't know how to get them to stop (I'm irritated). Breathe deeply. The dishes I did not use are piled in the sink (I'm resentful). Breathe deeply. My spouse made a hurtful comment. Breathe deeply. My boss was super-critical of something I put alot of effort into. Breathe deeply. The news is deeply disturbing and threatening my peace of mind. Breathe deeply. I haven't finished my class preparations and I'm running out of time. Breathe deeply. Each of these moments created a fear for me and I practiced noticing them. I would not have considered them fear in the past but noticing them made it possible to look at them differently. When you can make it a regular practice to notice and find your calm through your breath, you develop the ability to do this every time, especially when your fear is maximized. From a calm place, you can then make the choice to see the situations from Love-- which is really the only Truth in life. Fearful, ugly things happen but when you get to the bottom of it, you will find a lack of love that was the cause. So finding the Love is like turning on the light switch. Look for the people helping. Look for your Self helping. Look for the Love. Just stop.
Breathe. Create space by letting your mind release all of it. (Don't worry, you'll bring it back.....the necessary parts). For now, just let go and only focus on your breath. Your breath is everything. Breathe. Now..... bare bones. That's it. Forget all the rest.... all those extra elements that will make your creation outstanding.... for now, it's gravy. Keep the foundation and be sure it's solid. That's it. When you are ready and your friend Overwhelm has said goodbye, smile and embrace those extras one at a time. Don't open the floodgates. Take the time to welcome and connect each new addition to your project. Savor and delight in them. Or thank them for coming and let them go. |
AuthorI am the Essential Soul Mama. I am a mama, a soulful-spiritual teacher, an intentional storyteller, and a lover of stories of all kinds, in all forms. I write about emotions, parenting, natural health options, mind-body-soul connections, and anything that elevates our lives. Archives
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