This is the Time For Slowing and Releasing

The more life is asking, the more you need moments of silence to nourish yourself and stay open to the flow of life.                                                                     Anonymous

I so appreciate you for your continued, collective efforts toward

doing your work/play and for your contribution toward bringing

more light to the world.  When you believe in being the change

and in what you’re doing, it’s easy to make a difference. Thank

you!


The golden, orange, and red leaves are swirling, the geese are

heading south (and they're hanging out here for the winter), and

the days are much cooler. What a grand and beautiful Colorado

fall!


October 31st marks the mid-point of autumn in the northern

hemisphere. Can you see and feel the shift in the seasonal

energy? Our inner world is inviting us to dive more deeply

inward. Days are shortening as we move into the dark side of

the Great Mandala.


Our body's internal clock knows deep down that a change of

season means a change in us, too.


Fall is a wonderful season for all things comfy and cozy– it’s

also the time of year when many of us may lose the energy and

motivation we need to keep moving forward towards fulfilling the

goals we set at the beginning of the year. Remember those?

That's a natural response to this time of letting go, moving more

slowly, shedding the leaves that no longer serve our highest

good.


(And this year I'm hearing that many people feel more drained

and depleted than usual...)

In nature we can observe how the cycles of spring, summer,

autumn and winter keep moving and transforming in the wheel

of the Great Mandala. In the wisdom of the natural cycles, we

realize not every moment is about being active. Throughout this

year we've provided Co-Creative Mandala reminders that are

symbolize moments of gestation ("Silence" at the New Year), of

sprouting ("Awakening" at Spring Equinox), of growing

("Expansion" at Summer Solstice) and, also, of dying

("Alignment" at Fall Equinox). We are not meant to keep

producing like machines; we're meant to co-create with nature's

seasonal energy. The leaves fall and become compost,

nurturing a fertile ground for a new life and rebirth to occur.

Hope is inspired by the knowledge that spring will return.


Old beliefs fall away, we shed the stories that keep us stuck,

and honor our need for contemplation so we can move forward

with new insights and wisdom.


Everyone's life, both inner and outer, is constantly changing.

After so much disruption over the past year and a half, this is an

important opportunity for us to look at the critical role of

contemplation...


Deep contemplation of self, nature, and spirit can raise

awareness of our connection to a greater whole, to Oneness.

Common forms of  contemplation include meditation,

breath work, mindfulness, Tai Chi/Qigong, yoga, journaling, and

prayer. These more ritualized forms are often practiced twenty

minutes or more, once or twice daily. There are also informal

practices that extend into daily life i.e., taking a walk, gardening,

enjoying a hot bath. Listening to music and creating art can be

ways to include contemplation in your life. All these practices

raise your awareness of the miracles all around you.  With

enhanced awareness of self and others, our tolerance and

compassion increase.


Connecting with nature & the seasonal energy is so powerful

and life affirming.

Give yourself a gift of five minutes of contemplation in awe of everything you see around you. Go outside and turn your attention to the many miracles around you. This five-minute-a-day regimen of appreciation and gratitude will help you to focus your life in awe. 
                                                                        Wayne Dwyer

So much continues to happen in the world. This means it’s more

important than ever for us to realize and remember this truth:


We are in control of our inner life.


Maybe the current pandemic is reminding you to slow down and

step back from the noise of the world and step into the wisdom

and aspirations of your true self.


And allow your life to unfold…


Now is the perfect time to go inside, contemplate, and look,

explore, question, connect, contact, let go of what is holding you

back. To let go of anything--thoughts, feelings, beliefs...that no

longer serve you.


The seasonal energy offers this perfect time for making peace

with yourself.  Don’t judge anything that comes up for you. Just

notice and feel whatever you need to feel, and practice being an

observer. Observe your inner life without judgement.


And as you turn inward, don’t be afraid to look at your dark

parts, your shadows–be an observer. No judgement. What do

your shadows want to show you?


What do you see if you gaze unafraid at the darkness you fight

to hide? What if, instead, you wrap your arms around those

parts of yourself–what if you send yourself only deep,

compassionate love?


Remember: When you honor your shadow and clear the blocks

to love's presence and see what is larger than the fear or the

story you're telling yourself, you discover that your presence is

contagious...Love, Wholeness, Oneness is contagious.

All any feeling wants is to be welcomed with tenderness. It wants room to unfold. It wants to relax and tell its story.
                                                                           Geneen Roth

No matter what is unfolding in the outer world, you get to

determine everything that happens in your inner world. You get

to give yourself permission for your life to be joyful, simple, easy

and fun. Your outer world is a vibrational reflection of your inner

world, which means you get to create a life experience based on

your conscious intention.


These days of shifting inward invite us to turn extra attention

toward contemplation. Turning toward our practices invokes our

willingness to lean into "the invisible means of support," as

Joseph Campbell called it. Contemplation creates a refuge

where we dissolve the obstacles to staying open, staying clear,

and move toward a place of compassionate presence with all

that is.


In my personal life, I experience so much contrast. Right now,

today, I'm feeling a lot of goodness as I put the garden to bed

and write this blog.  It's been an amazing gardening season with

so much abundance! I love sharing ideas and inspiration with

each of you.


At the same time, I also know someone who's battling with

COVID and another who's quality of life is challenged by chronic

illness.


There's always so much. Life is so big.

I continually remind myself while I encourage you to embrace

and integrate the story of self-care, self-compassion and self-

love by taking care of your energy each day no matter what it

looks like, and by remembering that we are inherently worthy

simply because we exist.


This is the time to honor whatever the emotion is ready to be felt

and released within you at any moment. I invite you to feel your

body, to listen to your heart, to embrace your essence and

whisper lovingly in your ear: I am Love. I am Wholeness. I am

Oneness. This is the truth of who I am.


The world is full of things I can't control. But what I can control is

my choice to view troubling outside events as an opportunity to

lean into contemplation and to work on myself. To make the

universe that is my heart, mind and soul a more complete, more

healthy, more whole place. To change myself and the world for

the better.

You can only be connected to others if you are connected to yourself and the truth inside.
                                                                               Elie Tahari

It has become increasingly clear that our connection to

ourselves impacts our connection to others. While we are

inherently social animals, our most extensive social network lies

deep within ourselves -- making a solid foundation to stand on

that is necessary for a meaningful life by connecting with the

deepest parts of your being.


As Jennifer Kogan says in a PsychCentral article, to feel more

connected to others, it's essential that we first connect to

ourselves. "We need to be grounded in who we are before we

can have healthy relationships with others."


Here are five reminders that contemplation helps strengthen

your connection to your true self and by extension, your

connection to others and the world:


     1. Take Back Your Life: What is holding you back, what do

you need to release in order to fulfill your purpose in the months

to come?


     2. Trust Your Intuition: How can you tap into (and

strengthen) your inner guidance system and listen to your "still,

small voice"?


     3. Raise Your Vibration: What is blocking the flow of love in

your energy system?


     4. Shake up Your Routine: What can you do that takes your

life out of “autopilot” and moves you into the curiosity that invites

you into the unfamiliar territory where growth happens?

 
    5: Re-commit to Your Best Life: How do you want to show

up and co-create a life you truly love?


Each season has its own unique magic – an invitation for you to

expand in some part of your life. The natural energy is

encouraging you to stretch & grow in some way.


And when you connect the personal growth work you are doing

– this inner exploration – with the power of the season, you're

able to make profound forward movement on changes you want

to see in your life. You begin to align with this vision you have

for yourself & how you want to live your life and take action that

brings more light to the world.


Discover what your anchors are in life and what gives you inner

strength. Then invest time in contemplation and keeping these

things as alive as possible.


For me, my creativity, my connection to nature and Spirit, and

connecting with family and friends are constants regardless of

what may be swirling around "out there". If any or all life’s usual

reference points or anchors disappear the certainty of these

connections are still there.


Honor all you’ve learned, forgive yourself for what you have not

yet mastered, and give thanks for everyone who has helped you

along your way. Shining a light on your lessons learned,

illuminates not only your past, but your present and your future.


This Co-Creative Mandala, "Contemplation" ( from a photo of a

dahlia (life purpose), snapdragon (release), and globe thistle

(resilience). It reminds us to embrace the changes that happen

within and in the world. All things come to an end, transform,

and unravel. Finding our center in the midst of uncertainty in

contemplation supports our journey into the unknown, the first

step toward deepening wisdom.

...if you know the art of divine contemplation, easily and consciously we can unite the inner and the outer world.
                                                                           Sri Chinmoy

Contemplation Exercise:


In this simple, yet powerful exercise, I invite you to celebrate

"Contemplation" and feel supported by your inner and outer

resources.  Honor this powerful time of slowing and releasing.


Intention:


This is a time for contemplation, for slowing down and finding

your inner anchors and for releasing what no longer serves your

highest and best self.


Noticing the inner and outer effects of seasonal changes tunes

in to your inner wisdom and your "essential rhythm".


Slowing down allows you to contemplate and savor your

experiences; it allows you to fully focus your attention and

energy on your thoughts, feelings, body sensations, and the

world inside you.  Slowing down also lets you be more mindful,

deliberate, and fully present. When we slow down, we are giving

ourselves the opportunity to reacquaint ourselves with our

natural rhythms and the seasonal energy. We let go of  stress,

and allow our bodies to remain centered and grounded. Slowing

down is inherent to fully savoring anything in life. Slowing down

lets you appreciate whatever it is you are doing.


Here's the exercise:


Our bodies receive loving attention and care when we slow

down. This can be done by performing a body scan on

yourself*.


Begin by lying in a comfortable position and taking three deep

cleansing breaths.


Let your eyes rest on the "Contemplation" mandala. Note the

colors, the texture, the image. What do you notice in your body

when you look at the mandala.  Just be with the mandala. 


Now:

Imagine a sunbeam entering the top of your head.


Feel this light slowly scanning each part of your internal body.


Allow it to scan every cell in your body and keep breathing.


Every time you exhale, blow out negative energy you may feel.


Notice any changes, any sensations in your body.


You may feel a shift in body temperature, see a color or flash of

light, or hear a voice offering you guidance.


If you feel a block in a certain area of your body, sit with that

block and feel into it. Ask your body why that block is there and

what you need to do to release it.


Try not to judge or analyze the wisdom that comes to you.

Often, we experience energy blocks in our body because our

body is trying to tell us something.


You may want to breathe into that area until you feel the block

dissolving.


When you have finished your scan, take one last deep breath

and exhale any energetic residue that you are ready to release.


Next:

Write any thoughts, emotions, insights you experienced during

the body scan.

Consider these questions:

1. How do you want your life to change?

2. What is most important to you now?

3. How will you take the insights born of this unprecedented

time and bring them forth into the world?



Sending love,light, and peace,

*Body Scan adapted from Daily Om