I was just thinking of some things I wanted to say to a dear friend that I've known for years when this phrase popped into my head, "You are the Ultimate Healer of Yourself." I mentally uttered it again, and I mentally shook with the power of this statement. It's true, as any good healer or healthcare provider can attest.
Now I have nothing against traditional healthcare, I don't always agree with some of the methods, but I don't agree with all alternative care methods either. And a short jump back in history compared to today can lead to some quite disturbing methods of care based on the knowledge and resources they had and what was commonplace. So really it's always evolving and moving forward.
My point is that no matter what direction or suggestion you are given, you are ultimately the one who has to do the healing. Dr. A can prescribe you a medication to take every day or for so many days, but if you don't take it it won't do you any good. And if you do take it but don't follow the other directives given by Dr. A or Pharmacist B it won't do much if any good either. You have to remember, and you have to take it properly - end of story. The same goes with other methods. If your dietician or nutritionist suggest you lay off this food or watch these levels and you don't, it won't matter what they said. And if you see a therapist, counselor, alternative health practitioner or any other slew of health and healing providers and work against their directions you are unlikely to find yourself anywhere but deep in the hole with your issue, ailment, or whatever problem.
I have to say though, it's a little more than that. Sometimes we carry with us deep problems physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual that just eat away at the core of our strength. They wear on us constantly and we feel as though we can't get away from them. Sometimes even though you'd love to go off the meds you just can't because physically or otherwise you're not equipped to "go it alone". Especially in those cases follow your care plan to the letter, seek help, give the fullest effort you can. But understand it's okay to feel frustrated and that worrying, while understandable, certainly won't help. But forgive yourself, allow yourself to be human and then pick yourself up - surround yourself with support in all the ways that you can and do your best to keep moving forward.
Healing doesn't generally happen in a day. You certainly didn't develop whatever issue is bothering you in a day (even when it seems "overnight") so allow it to take at least that long to let up. And know that healing doesn't necessarily mean that it's 100% gone. Sometimes healing is maintaining and being able to get through the day, feel a bit better, and being able to go on even when you don't otherwise feel like it. Healing is being able to appreciate the good you have, acknowledge the less than good and still be okay about it. It's learning from one's mistakes, and embracing things as they are without becoming victim to what may not feel so great. It's about struggling, releasing, letting go, winding down, moving up and the constant change one may feel throughout life - but still living.
Here's to that wild ride and all the interesting things along the way.
Love & Light,
Naware
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Your Psychic Senses
I was discussing Friday with a dear friend about psychic senses and receiving messages. I pointed out that even though messages sometimes come at inopportune times (when we'd rather be doing something else) the natural, developed ability to receive messages should be appreciated as there are many who have difficulty with the ability.
This led to this post where I want to share my own experience with the psychic sense and its development.
We're all familiar with our five senses, the physical senses of touch, taste, sight, smell, and hearing. We are born with them generally at a certain level which develops to what we are used to by school age. While some are color blind to varying degrees, blind, or deaf generally we're all on the same level. We can't develop them further with practice - the range you can hear is the range you can hear. Although with age, illness, and accident we can lose them. And sometimes they can be slightly augmented, as with the case of hearing aids and glasses - but only so much. So really they're rather limited when you consider it.
The psychic senses however usually are not fully developed when we are born, though certainly easy enough to access. As with most things we must learn to use them, and yet most don't. Training with them typically involves protection and learning to sense more closely or fully. But in that we are highly variable. What you may be naturally strong at I may not, and vice versa. The benefit of the psychic senses is that they develop in a way that works best for you. You will receive messages that you are capable of receiving. But in that it can make learning difficult if your teacher or mentor does not receive in the same way. And sometimes we receive in ways we'd rather not, and not in ways we'd like. But even with that we have a lot more freedom and control over these senses than our physical ones.
The trouble is that when we are most open, as children, we often lack the understanding and capability to understand the complexity of the psychic senses. We may innately accept the messages and not differentiate between them and physical reality but the imagination of a child is similarly colorful and at a young age may get mixed up in that too. Many who are empathic have the same problem of having trouble in developing their ability as those working with the psychic senses. While there is literature out there it is directed at adults and based on the ideas and experiences of the author. Plainly put it just may not work for you.
There is no right or wrong way to develop one's senses really, it just takes practice and honest, open observation. We must learn to listen to the signs we are given before we try to interpret them. Then it's important to understand that some signs are not literal but figurative. Certain senses may come through one way but another at a different time. We might find that certain messages are received in a certain way too - like a feeling of danger preceding one, but have something audible happen when spirits are near.
Some tips:
Share with us, in your search and study to develop your psychic senses what have you learned? What has or hasn't worked for you?
This led to this post where I want to share my own experience with the psychic sense and its development.
We're all familiar with our five senses, the physical senses of touch, taste, sight, smell, and hearing. We are born with them generally at a certain level which develops to what we are used to by school age. While some are color blind to varying degrees, blind, or deaf generally we're all on the same level. We can't develop them further with practice - the range you can hear is the range you can hear. Although with age, illness, and accident we can lose them. And sometimes they can be slightly augmented, as with the case of hearing aids and glasses - but only so much. So really they're rather limited when you consider it.
The psychic senses however usually are not fully developed when we are born, though certainly easy enough to access. As with most things we must learn to use them, and yet most don't. Training with them typically involves protection and learning to sense more closely or fully. But in that we are highly variable. What you may be naturally strong at I may not, and vice versa. The benefit of the psychic senses is that they develop in a way that works best for you. You will receive messages that you are capable of receiving. But in that it can make learning difficult if your teacher or mentor does not receive in the same way. And sometimes we receive in ways we'd rather not, and not in ways we'd like. But even with that we have a lot more freedom and control over these senses than our physical ones.
The trouble is that when we are most open, as children, we often lack the understanding and capability to understand the complexity of the psychic senses. We may innately accept the messages and not differentiate between them and physical reality but the imagination of a child is similarly colorful and at a young age may get mixed up in that too. Many who are empathic have the same problem of having trouble in developing their ability as those working with the psychic senses. While there is literature out there it is directed at adults and based on the ideas and experiences of the author. Plainly put it just may not work for you.
There is no right or wrong way to develop one's senses really, it just takes practice and honest, open observation. We must learn to listen to the signs we are given before we try to interpret them. Then it's important to understand that some signs are not literal but figurative. Certain senses may come through one way but another at a different time. We might find that certain messages are received in a certain way too - like a feeling of danger preceding one, but have something audible happen when spirits are near.
Some tips:
- Be open. Don't expect your senses to develop in any particular way. Everyone's senses develop in the way that is best for them to receive.
- Observe carefully without expectation. Even after one or more of your senses starts to develop it may be some time before you get a strong message. Do not ignore even things that seem like insignificant messages.
- Practice. As with anything this is a skill, it takes time and effort to develop. And as you cannot necessarily quantify your results it can be hard to measure precisely how much you're doing.
- Tools can help. Many enter the practice of developing their psychic sense by using divinatory objects. These give you a physical middle man through which to receive messages. They may also help with a specific sense.
- Find a community. Talking with others who have or are developing their senses can help you as well. They may point out pitfalls or have suggestions.
- Immerse yourself in learning. While there is not one single "must read" for those trying to develop their senses there are a number of practices and resources that can certainly help.
- Most of all - be patient. You likely weren't born with knowledge of how to do complicated things like driving or communicating verbally, so you will need time for this as well.
Share with us, in your search and study to develop your psychic senses what have you learned? What has or hasn't worked for you?
Blessings,
Naware
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Being Busy
Lately I have been very busy. 2012 has started off with a continuance of the busy-ness of 2011. In December of 2011 I had a lot going on with my store, several custom orders came to me last minute at the end of the year so I put any healing work (not having any clients to attend to at the moment anyhow) I was doing in my center and for myself especially on serious hold. I've done so so much that I was starting to feel guilty about it. I started my healing center to reach out after all and I haven't been doing that at all.
Then again, it's not out of laziness, or even poor planning (most of the time) it's really that I have so much to do. Also let's also mention that in June 2011 my son was born and my schedule (the one I had set) just frankly went to hell - as anyone who has ever had a newborn can attest, babies tend to do that.
It's been on my mind so much that I was about to write a blog post about it trying to explain or even apologize for my absence. However, I read this this evening and changed my mind...
I Fill Myself Up First: A Declaration by Lissa Rankin
I found myself doing a lot of nodding and even feeling a tinge of guilt. Did I qualify as one of those people she mentioned? I surely hoped not. But regardless of that it got me thinking. I know I have felt the same at times, that I have secretly desired to say no to someone's wants and needs because they weren't my own and because they interfered with the many other things I was doing or things I wanted to do. I am sure that I might have "needed too much" for someone else's tastes because they similarly had other things to do. (I know I've felt guilty a time or two for taking up someone else's time too.) As I read I felt the urge to comment, to praise Lissa for steps forward for herself, to comment on things I've thought and share my own wisdom from my own experiences. Then I got to the end, noticed she said that there would be no place to comment and stopped. Maybe I should write her a letter, saying thank you, praising her work...I considered it and decided again not to and instead put some of my thoughts here on my blog.
What Lissa talks about, healing yourself and doing that personal work before you work for others and instead of going to others all the time, is very important for healers and lay persons alike. For many it's just easier to go to someone else who has done it before. To take them on as a mentor (whether they know about it or not) and to want to follow in their footsteps. After all why not follow a successful path that's been tread? But along with the danger that you will be leeching off of someone else, you don't really learn to do the work for yourself. Everyone's path is their own and we must each walk it by ourselves. This doesn't mean that you can't look to others for inspiration or even try things that have worked for them. But know your own road and cherish your path for what it is - your unique experience with trials and tribulations and just as many joys and gifts.
So what have you done for yourself? Do you need to take time off, say no to others, yes to yourself? Have you perhaps asked too much of someone else before? Have you had help declined you before and not known why?
Food for thought...
Then again, it's not out of laziness, or even poor planning (most of the time) it's really that I have so much to do. Also let's also mention that in June 2011 my son was born and my schedule (the one I had set) just frankly went to hell - as anyone who has ever had a newborn can attest, babies tend to do that.
It's been on my mind so much that I was about to write a blog post about it trying to explain or even apologize for my absence. However, I read this this evening and changed my mind...
I Fill Myself Up First: A Declaration by Lissa Rankin
I found myself doing a lot of nodding and even feeling a tinge of guilt. Did I qualify as one of those people she mentioned? I surely hoped not. But regardless of that it got me thinking. I know I have felt the same at times, that I have secretly desired to say no to someone's wants and needs because they weren't my own and because they interfered with the many other things I was doing or things I wanted to do. I am sure that I might have "needed too much" for someone else's tastes because they similarly had other things to do. (I know I've felt guilty a time or two for taking up someone else's time too.) As I read I felt the urge to comment, to praise Lissa for steps forward for herself, to comment on things I've thought and share my own wisdom from my own experiences. Then I got to the end, noticed she said that there would be no place to comment and stopped. Maybe I should write her a letter, saying thank you, praising her work...I considered it and decided again not to and instead put some of my thoughts here on my blog.
What Lissa talks about, healing yourself and doing that personal work before you work for others and instead of going to others all the time, is very important for healers and lay persons alike. For many it's just easier to go to someone else who has done it before. To take them on as a mentor (whether they know about it or not) and to want to follow in their footsteps. After all why not follow a successful path that's been tread? But along with the danger that you will be leeching off of someone else, you don't really learn to do the work for yourself. Everyone's path is their own and we must each walk it by ourselves. This doesn't mean that you can't look to others for inspiration or even try things that have worked for them. But know your own road and cherish your path for what it is - your unique experience with trials and tribulations and just as many joys and gifts.
So what have you done for yourself? Do you need to take time off, say no to others, yes to yourself? Have you perhaps asked too much of someone else before? Have you had help declined you before and not known why?
Food for thought...
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Confession
Throughout various posts you've seen "behind the healer". These posts have been brought on by meditative contemplation of something that happened to me and I felt the urge and need to share here. We learn life lessons everywhere and in everything. Sometimes they are small, seemingly insignificant things - like the need for learning patience and the ability to slow down and be in the moment when we feel rushed. You also learn things in the knowledge you can glean from other people, those you know closely and those you don't. What my post today concerns is something I have learned from someone I consider an inspirational mentor Dr. Lissa Rankin.
She has shown me, and everyone associated with Owning Pink the value and cost of "putting yourself out there". The fruitful rewards of doing so and that the pay off...even if it doesn't seem worth the imagined cost...is more than worth it. You've got to love this woman. She lives her life O-U-T-L-O-U-D for all to see and it's surely garnered her criticism, but more than that accolades. I can't think of a braver person of this age, and with the tragedy and change that's been going on in the world we need a revolutionary like her.
As I sat up late into the night/early into this morning I had a small epiphany. I have not been fulfilling my goals as a healer. In fact, I can say I haven't for some time. When it started I'm not sure, it likely came as such a little thing or based on already set habits so that I didn't really notice or pay attention to it. But it's grown rather enormous and monstrous and I saw it in some repercussions of some actions I undertook in my late night/early morning. It started with a pair of clients I took on a few weeks ago. From time to time I will take "pro-bono" cases. While my rates for the amount of work I do for my clients are more than fair I know some people who are just not of the means to afford something that isn't covered by health insurance. Being and having been of limited resources and means I understand this all too well and ultimately I don't think it's right to deny someone care they really could use and may desperately need over money. In 2011 I myself had a lot of help from friends, close, casual, and complete strangers from donations of baby clothing and food, to sums of money. I appreciate the good will given to me and I am not one to not return or at least pass it along to others. But back to the topic at hand...I took the case and sent the paperwork I send to all first time clients, a number of forms that resemble some things you would find when visiting a doctor's office, but a number of others that you wouldn't see. (I'm meticulously thorough.) The aim of all of this paperwork is to give me a more complete picture without having my clients sit through an overly long discourse trying to remember on the spot every detail that could be deemed important in their holistic care. However, given the large amount of paperwork that this would be, and having it done for a parent & child it didn't quite get finished. Now my perspective is that I will make time for you when you make time for yourself. Doing healing work really isn't work for me - it's part of my calling - and I have a natural knack for the doing part as well as research so I will make time when my client does.
So I put the case off to the side after finishing some initial notes and trusted that if the person in question was truly serious they'd get back to me with the remainder of the information and we'd start then. No harm, no foul. Well it just so happens that I spoke to the person in question last night - we happen to be good friends - and in expressing distress over something I opened my ear and offered my shoulder to them, reminding at the end that I was still waiting on starting treatment. In short the initial information for the child was completed and a pre-liminary plan was set, with information to be gathered and feedback further decision would be made later as to how to proceed.
In starting some meditative research on the matter I chose to review some information written out by another Reiki Master I know personally, Alice Langholt, concerning Reiki and parenting. Given the nature of the relationship I figured there would likely be something positive to glean from her writing. Now I have had the documentation for some time, and the Reiki tradition it works hand in hand with - Kundalini Reiki - I have been trained in for several years now and yet much of the pertinent information contained within both writings I had apparently forgotten, at least temporarily. (Such is a hazard when you put too much on your plate consistently.) Since I had already cleared space to start reviewing my notes and writing up my initial healing plan I thought I would implement as much as possible as soon as possible too. Additionally though, as a parent myself, I saw also that some of what I was reading could well be helpful to myself and family. So I did healing for the four of us and set "appointment reminders" to complete some of the treatments that were done in parts or stages. How long it all took I can't be sure not having noted the time. But I noticed the familiar tingly, spacey feeling of energy work (as the energy rebalanced but before I had grounded) and after it settled I looked about me with amazing clarity to pin point some details that I had let mentally slip. In realizing all of this it came to me that as of late I have not been the healer I set out to be.
Ever the caretaker I always tend to care for others before, if at all for, myself. While this is common among those who care for others be they in the health profession or not it is also a very bad practice. For one, how can you expect those in your care to place value on their own well-being if you don't? For another, if you don't nurture and care for yourself you won't have the strength or energy to do so for others.
Afterwards several other things came to my awareness with startling clarity. Things I was aware of if you asked me but not aware of in a sense of acknowledging the information in a real sense. Being an artist for example my desk often finds itself a mess when I get in "artist mode". I take out everything I need, whether I will be using it immediately or not, and strew it about my work space. Add to this my monkey mind and penchant for working on a number of pieces at a time/during a day and very quickly I find my desk looking more like a small tornado hit it than anything else.
And so I add another intention for 2012, to be the healer I wish to be while accepting my humanity (and it's physical limitations) and ever striving to do better without overdoing it.
What about you? What confessions about your health have you noticed?
She has shown me, and everyone associated with Owning Pink the value and cost of "putting yourself out there". The fruitful rewards of doing so and that the pay off...even if it doesn't seem worth the imagined cost...is more than worth it. You've got to love this woman. She lives her life O-U-T-L-O-U-D for all to see and it's surely garnered her criticism, but more than that accolades. I can't think of a braver person of this age, and with the tragedy and change that's been going on in the world we need a revolutionary like her.
As I sat up late into the night/early into this morning I had a small epiphany. I have not been fulfilling my goals as a healer. In fact, I can say I haven't for some time. When it started I'm not sure, it likely came as such a little thing or based on already set habits so that I didn't really notice or pay attention to it. But it's grown rather enormous and monstrous and I saw it in some repercussions of some actions I undertook in my late night/early morning. It started with a pair of clients I took on a few weeks ago. From time to time I will take "pro-bono" cases. While my rates for the amount of work I do for my clients are more than fair I know some people who are just not of the means to afford something that isn't covered by health insurance. Being and having been of limited resources and means I understand this all too well and ultimately I don't think it's right to deny someone care they really could use and may desperately need over money. In 2011 I myself had a lot of help from friends, close, casual, and complete strangers from donations of baby clothing and food, to sums of money. I appreciate the good will given to me and I am not one to not return or at least pass it along to others. But back to the topic at hand...I took the case and sent the paperwork I send to all first time clients, a number of forms that resemble some things you would find when visiting a doctor's office, but a number of others that you wouldn't see. (I'm meticulously thorough.) The aim of all of this paperwork is to give me a more complete picture without having my clients sit through an overly long discourse trying to remember on the spot every detail that could be deemed important in their holistic care. However, given the large amount of paperwork that this would be, and having it done for a parent & child it didn't quite get finished. Now my perspective is that I will make time for you when you make time for yourself. Doing healing work really isn't work for me - it's part of my calling - and I have a natural knack for the doing part as well as research so I will make time when my client does.
So I put the case off to the side after finishing some initial notes and trusted that if the person in question was truly serious they'd get back to me with the remainder of the information and we'd start then. No harm, no foul. Well it just so happens that I spoke to the person in question last night - we happen to be good friends - and in expressing distress over something I opened my ear and offered my shoulder to them, reminding at the end that I was still waiting on starting treatment. In short the initial information for the child was completed and a pre-liminary plan was set, with information to be gathered and feedback further decision would be made later as to how to proceed.
In starting some meditative research on the matter I chose to review some information written out by another Reiki Master I know personally, Alice Langholt, concerning Reiki and parenting. Given the nature of the relationship I figured there would likely be something positive to glean from her writing. Now I have had the documentation for some time, and the Reiki tradition it works hand in hand with - Kundalini Reiki - I have been trained in for several years now and yet much of the pertinent information contained within both writings I had apparently forgotten, at least temporarily. (Such is a hazard when you put too much on your plate consistently.) Since I had already cleared space to start reviewing my notes and writing up my initial healing plan I thought I would implement as much as possible as soon as possible too. Additionally though, as a parent myself, I saw also that some of what I was reading could well be helpful to myself and family. So I did healing for the four of us and set "appointment reminders" to complete some of the treatments that were done in parts or stages. How long it all took I can't be sure not having noted the time. But I noticed the familiar tingly, spacey feeling of energy work (as the energy rebalanced but before I had grounded) and after it settled I looked about me with amazing clarity to pin point some details that I had let mentally slip. In realizing all of this it came to me that as of late I have not been the healer I set out to be.
Ever the caretaker I always tend to care for others before, if at all for, myself. While this is common among those who care for others be they in the health profession or not it is also a very bad practice. For one, how can you expect those in your care to place value on their own well-being if you don't? For another, if you don't nurture and care for yourself you won't have the strength or energy to do so for others.
Afterwards several other things came to my awareness with startling clarity. Things I was aware of if you asked me but not aware of in a sense of acknowledging the information in a real sense. Being an artist for example my desk often finds itself a mess when I get in "artist mode". I take out everything I need, whether I will be using it immediately or not, and strew it about my work space. Add to this my monkey mind and penchant for working on a number of pieces at a time/during a day and very quickly I find my desk looking more like a small tornado hit it than anything else.
And so I add another intention for 2012, to be the healer I wish to be while accepting my humanity (and it's physical limitations) and ever striving to do better without overdoing it.
What about you? What confessions about your health have you noticed?
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Kalends Messages for January
At the end of 2011 I took a break from working with the healing center to focus on my shop. My purpose was to meet the demands of holiday shopping and with the other intent to catch up on paperwork. With the advent of 2012 we're back in action and looking forwards to checking in with you again and more regularly!
Our plans for 2012 include taking care of some necessary "business tasks" (financial ones and paperwork) but also keeping up on our "book of days" posts on the Guild's FB page. As well as our weekly site uploads for the Book of Shadows.
We hope also to offer some more things in the store, though our primary focus is healing and teachings for the healing center. With the opening of a new store venue on Storenvy for my other shop I'll be featuring some of the healing center's products there (rather than opening another venue right now), though that may be a possibility later.
The only things currently on our queue are two prayer shawls, each a gift for a close friend. Some more paid pieces are being considered for the future after these are finished.
Wishing you a wonderful and fruitful 2012!!!
Our plans for 2012 include taking care of some necessary "business tasks" (financial ones and paperwork) but also keeping up on our "book of days" posts on the Guild's FB page. As well as our weekly site uploads for the Book of Shadows.
We hope also to offer some more things in the store, though our primary focus is healing and teachings for the healing center. With the opening of a new store venue on Storenvy for my other shop I'll be featuring some of the healing center's products there (rather than opening another venue right now), though that may be a possibility later.
The only things currently on our queue are two prayer shawls, each a gift for a close friend. Some more paid pieces are being considered for the future after these are finished.
Wishing you a wonderful and fruitful 2012!!!
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Kalends Messages for December...
It seems we have missed the Kalends updates for October & November, much to my chagrin, and my apologies on that.
Feeling that it's time, especially as the end of the calendar year draws nigh, there will be some layout changes and a new look to the blog this month (ensuing shortly after this post is completed). Much of my time has been devoted to my store proper and not to the healing center or it's store as the holidays are generally a time that brings in more sales and a general "rush".
In the last few months however we have finished our large cross stitch, "Reiki Principles Cross Stitch" and the "Earth Fire Water Healing Shawl". The only project currently in our queue is a charity piece, a prayer shawl for a friend.
With the Winter Solstice looming ever closer now is a time of reflection, as the new year dawns and the old passes a way. Again we have a coupon for the healing center's store proper, use code "YUL3" for 20% off your entire order.
Blessings & Namaste
Naware
Feeling that it's time, especially as the end of the calendar year draws nigh, there will be some layout changes and a new look to the blog this month (ensuing shortly after this post is completed). Much of my time has been devoted to my store proper and not to the healing center or it's store as the holidays are generally a time that brings in more sales and a general "rush".
In the last few months however we have finished our large cross stitch, "Reiki Principles Cross Stitch" and the "Earth Fire Water Healing Shawl". The only project currently in our queue is a charity piece, a prayer shawl for a friend.
With the Winter Solstice looming ever closer now is a time of reflection, as the new year dawns and the old passes a way. Again we have a coupon for the healing center's store proper, use code "YUL3" for 20% off your entire order.
Blessings & Namaste
Naware
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Connecting With Our World & Honoring That Connection
This post comes out of two made on a social network for moms I am a part of (CafeMom). I liked what I had to say and thought it was relevant enough to include it on this blog.
In 2009 I attended a sweat lodge for the Winter Solstice and another one during the Autumn Equinox in 2010. It was my first one and it was a fantastic experience which I blogged about here. What was mentioned was the fact that many people are "out of sync" with the world and Nature. Being plugged into the modern has caused us to keep going constantly and often despite what is going on around us. During the Winter life slows down, animals have migrated or are hibernating, many plants die, and the world in general takes a rest. But look at yourself, your lifestyle and the pattern of your year. Many people throughout the year, with some industries having slower portions dependent on the season (like the tourist season & Summer around coastal and resort areas), but in general you're still working. You may luck out and get a holiday off, or opt to take a vacation for family time or just a break from work and schools let out during this time for similar reasons but you don't really slow down. What you do is replace work and school with busy family events as the largest holiday gatherings are around this time - funny how that works out. So you trade one form of busy-ness for another.
In my two posts on CafeMom I mention my issue with insomnia. While it has many factors that contribute to it the bottom line is that it indicates that I am out of touch with the world just as much as anyone else. Yes, the healer needs to heal too. I find that during the Winter it gets even worse. I believe that part of what is going on in my own situation is a general restlessness (which seems to make my insomnia worse) and a desire to be active due to my "monkey mind" - or as I call it the "jack rabbit". I am so used to filling my days up with doing something that I cannot seem to embrace the quiet of the Winter time. In fact it disquiets me. With the Winter also comes the cold or at least cooler weather, neither of which I am a big fan of. This drives me to stay inside more making the cabin fever even worse. (And did I forget to mention I've also been a SAHM during my pregnancy due to having a hard time with it and since I gave birth from being out of work.) It's a bit of a vicious cycle.
So this year, during this time of Nature's quiet I challenge you to connect with the energies around you in whatever way resonates most with your own personal beliefs. Even if it's setting aside a few minutes a day for a week or just a few days to have some true quiet time. Consider taking up a meditation practice or some form of soothing exercise that focuses on gentle movement - like yoga or T'ai Ch'i. Then think about how it feels to work with the energy versus what you might have been doing before. I'd love to hear about your experiences!
In 2009 I attended a sweat lodge for the Winter Solstice and another one during the Autumn Equinox in 2010. It was my first one and it was a fantastic experience which I blogged about here. What was mentioned was the fact that many people are "out of sync" with the world and Nature. Being plugged into the modern has caused us to keep going constantly and often despite what is going on around us. During the Winter life slows down, animals have migrated or are hibernating, many plants die, and the world in general takes a rest. But look at yourself, your lifestyle and the pattern of your year. Many people throughout the year, with some industries having slower portions dependent on the season (like the tourist season & Summer around coastal and resort areas), but in general you're still working. You may luck out and get a holiday off, or opt to take a vacation for family time or just a break from work and schools let out during this time for similar reasons but you don't really slow down. What you do is replace work and school with busy family events as the largest holiday gatherings are around this time - funny how that works out. So you trade one form of busy-ness for another.
In my two posts on CafeMom I mention my issue with insomnia. While it has many factors that contribute to it the bottom line is that it indicates that I am out of touch with the world just as much as anyone else. Yes, the healer needs to heal too. I find that during the Winter it gets even worse. I believe that part of what is going on in my own situation is a general restlessness (which seems to make my insomnia worse) and a desire to be active due to my "monkey mind" - or as I call it the "jack rabbit". I am so used to filling my days up with doing something that I cannot seem to embrace the quiet of the Winter time. In fact it disquiets me. With the Winter also comes the cold or at least cooler weather, neither of which I am a big fan of. This drives me to stay inside more making the cabin fever even worse. (And did I forget to mention I've also been a SAHM during my pregnancy due to having a hard time with it and since I gave birth from being out of work.) It's a bit of a vicious cycle.
So this year, during this time of Nature's quiet I challenge you to connect with the energies around you in whatever way resonates most with your own personal beliefs. Even if it's setting aside a few minutes a day for a week or just a few days to have some true quiet time. Consider taking up a meditation practice or some form of soothing exercise that focuses on gentle movement - like yoga or T'ai Ch'i. Then think about how it feels to work with the energy versus what you might have been doing before. I'd love to hear about your experiences!
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