May the growing light awaken and ignite
your one of a kind beauty!
I recently watched a video from Asia Suler, One Willow Apothecaries about how awakenings show up. She has an unique and beautiful way of making the connections between humans and nature. In this video she speaks directly to the transition of winter into spring.
"You don't need to rush your own flowering, you just need to show up for the whims of your inner feelings, tiny insights and flashes that give you a glimpse of what is moving within."
It got me thinking how easy it is for turbulent thoughts, reactivity or being so busy and exhausted we end up falling into patterns of coping that may interfere with noticing the beauty of our world around and inside us.
As Asia so beautiful points out, the process of awakening isn't a straight forward, feel good unfolding. Just like the fits and starts of new life stirring right now~ there are blue skies, gray skies, warmer days, then snow storms, and wet, damp cold days. So too, goes our own awakening.
When we attune and respect the rhythmic nature of life, we begin to trust and even appreciate this uneven process. We can even begin to notice how reactivity and agitation can actually be a gate way to greater intimacy and blossoming of our unique, one of a kind beauty.
This may seem contradictory, and counter intuitive. How can reactivity and agitation be a gate way?
Well, they are uncomfortable. And that discomfort can tell us we need to pause, turn inward to listen.
Agitation and reactivity are built in survival responses to mobilize immediate action to protect us. Unfortunately this stress response also takes us offline to allow the primitive part of our brain to take over. We say something, do something, eat or drink something that ultimately is a quick and often ineffective response that doesn’t lead us to resolution or well-being.
With practice though, we can catch ourselves, allow the rush of the stress chemicals to be a cue to pause rather than continue to launch into a full blown fight-flight-freeze stress reaction. We can only do this effectively if we befriend the emotional and sensory discomfort.
Huh?
We need to come back to our bodies, feel the raw uncomfortable body sensations of anger, jealously, impatience, or whatever is triggering us. This is the doorway we need to go through to come back on line to regain a calmer, wiser response.
Once we cross this threshold, with practice we can steady ourselves enough to listen and investigate what is going on. We can learn how to turn towards ourselves with tenderness and care, connect to our needs, and access our creative minds to choose the best path forward.
Each time we take this path, we learn more about ourselves, our unique responses to life, what matters most to us. And ultimately, we can, with time begin to source our unique one of a kind beauty.
This isn’t a one and done kind of thing. It takes time, forgiveness, compassion and patience.
For many, mindfulness has been a reliable practice to source this kind of life nourishment. No matter what trouble arises, pausing to be present and allowing what is alive inside and out, can be a reliable companion to guide us back to see the goodness that is always here.
What are your trustworthy practices and GO TO's to calm and steady yourself when life gets turbulent?
How you are experiencing this transition from winter to spring?
Take heart if you are feeling this transition in challenging ways.
In Chinese medicine, Spring is associated with the liver and with the emotion of anger. It takes energy for seeds to burst open and evolve into their full expression.
The bright colors and warm exuberance of spring is coming. For now, take a moment to BE WITH and feel the pure bodily sensations of whatever is happening with as much acceptance and kindness you can muster.
May this listening and allowing serve you well.
May the light of kind attention awaken the seeds of wellbeing that lie waiting.
If you would like to deepen you ability to be more attentive and supportive to what lies within; learn how to calm turbulent thought patterns to find a path to heal and grow; to find a reliable steadiness to nourish your true potential for wellbeing consider joining our 8 week Mindful Living class for a special dose of self care and kind listening.
Mindful Living: Foundations in Mindfulness is offered in the Spring and the Fall
May you always find something to enhance your well being at East and West of the River.
With full moon light and blessings,
Robin