It's hard to believe that October is already here. The leaves are turning, my morning walk is in the dark, and every day begins with cool crisp air. As the season changes and nature begins to fold inward, I find that I am also feeling the same. There's been an underlying restlessness / stirring quality to my energy the past few weeks. I've also been gravitating more and more towards Earth; daily barefoot walking meditations, lying in the sun on the grass, close-up inspection of the colors and shapes of leaves...they are all so different.
Earth has had such a calling to me that I spent the entire day Sunday, from foggy sunrise to cloudless sunset, in silent retreat at the beach. I'm a mountains/woods person so the ocean wasn't my first-thought location but, in many ways, it was the perfect place to touch the Earth deeply and to connect with my flow of energy. With the ocean by my side, what I discovered was a deep residing need to rhythm more harmoniously with wherever I am and whatever I am doing. As each wave simply arrives when it arrives, it's becoming more important to release the "shoulds" and give honor to the flow that is my life.
Walking the coast, one step and one breath at a time, quite often with eyes closed, trusting the Earth to support, and feeling the stability (or instability) of my body responding to the slow motion was priceless. Everything drops away when you are just right there. No worries, no concerns, no to-do's, no world calling you for attention. Instead, just noticing that every breath is different, that every step is 100 small motions connected together, that the mind leads the body to move with a nano-thought (where does that come from?), and that as you place your foot down and breathe out, you are releasing more than just your breath or body weight. You are releasing all those needs you think you have, all those "shoulds" that you've taken as yours. As you pick up the other foot and breathe in, you are gifting yourself with a fresh step, a new beginning, a journeyman's foot on the Path. And then placing that foot down, releasing more tensions, you breathe out with full support of this living planet. Ahhh... priceless gifts I gave to myself Sunday.
Yes, I'm sure this all sounds very strange and "out there" but how often during the day do you wish for open space, freedom, unattached moments of being? How often do you wonder why you are REALLY doing what you are doing? How strong are the pulls of habit?
Creating space to become aware of what's stirring inside and becoming curious about the insights it holds is unfortunately not a typical habit activity. There's deep honor and grace in slowing down enough to experience who and what you are, however. For the most part, we rush to get nowhere. Slowing to connect is a chance to love and appreciate the tides, the ebbs and flows, of your existence and to let yourself find freedom right where you are.
I invite you to grace yourself with Fall and all the changes that take shape. Take time to slow down, move with the Earth (versus just on top of her), and notice what colors and shapes arrive for you. Release the tensions that have accumulated over the summer so that you are refreshed as you move into winter. And whatever you do, be well and stay in Peace.
In Gratitude,
Shanti
Shanti Douglas
Mindfulness & Stress Management Coach
Shanti@8limbsHolisticHealth.com
603.228.9007
Earth has had such a calling to me that I spent the entire day Sunday, from foggy sunrise to cloudless sunset, in silent retreat at the beach. I'm a mountains/woods person so the ocean wasn't my first-thought location but, in many ways, it was the perfect place to touch the Earth deeply and to connect with my flow of energy. With the ocean by my side, what I discovered was a deep residing need to rhythm more harmoniously with wherever I am and whatever I am doing. As each wave simply arrives when it arrives, it's becoming more important to release the "shoulds" and give honor to the flow that is my life.
Walking the coast, one step and one breath at a time, quite often with eyes closed, trusting the Earth to support, and feeling the stability (or instability) of my body responding to the slow motion was priceless. Everything drops away when you are just right there. No worries, no concerns, no to-do's, no world calling you for attention. Instead, just noticing that every breath is different, that every step is 100 small motions connected together, that the mind leads the body to move with a nano-thought (where does that come from?), and that as you place your foot down and breathe out, you are releasing more than just your breath or body weight. You are releasing all those needs you think you have, all those "shoulds" that you've taken as yours. As you pick up the other foot and breathe in, you are gifting yourself with a fresh step, a new beginning, a journeyman's foot on the Path. And then placing that foot down, releasing more tensions, you breathe out with full support of this living planet. Ahhh... priceless gifts I gave to myself Sunday.
Yes, I'm sure this all sounds very strange and "out there" but how often during the day do you wish for open space, freedom, unattached moments of being? How often do you wonder why you are REALLY doing what you are doing? How strong are the pulls of habit?
Creating space to become aware of what's stirring inside and becoming curious about the insights it holds is unfortunately not a typical habit activity. There's deep honor and grace in slowing down enough to experience who and what you are, however. For the most part, we rush to get nowhere. Slowing to connect is a chance to love and appreciate the tides, the ebbs and flows, of your existence and to let yourself find freedom right where you are.
I invite you to grace yourself with Fall and all the changes that take shape. Take time to slow down, move with the Earth (versus just on top of her), and notice what colors and shapes arrive for you. Release the tensions that have accumulated over the summer so that you are refreshed as you move into winter. And whatever you do, be well and stay in Peace.
In Gratitude,
Shanti
Shanti Douglas
Mindfulness & Stress Management Coach
Shanti@8limbsHolisticHealth.com
603.228.9007
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