October Gratitude

October is a very special month. Its colors make it impossible to ignore nature, its crisp wind makes us feel simultaneously invigorated and looking for a cozy blanket. On the last day of October 2020, nature is giving us a special treat (we had enough tricks this year) ... the Blue Hunter's Full Moon. Each month's full moon has a name, and October's full moon is called the Hunter's Moon. The Blue Moon means that it is the second full moon of the month. October 2020 is bookended by full moons, the first full moon was on October 1 (named the Harvest Moon because it is closest to the autumn equinox).

October 31 is, of course, Halloween, or Samhain ("Sow-in"). Many cultures and spiritual paths that track closely to nature and her cycles connect this day with "thinning of the veil," which means we can connect more closely with spirits of ancestors. It is a powerful time to pause, reflect, and release and to forge gratitude and healing to replace what you release.

I encourage you to make and schedule time on October 31 to connect inward and identify something to release and replace it with specific gratitudes. Step out and gaze at that full moon. Halloween might be different this year, but challenge yourself to make "different" something extra special.

#gratitude #october #samhain #westdirection #bluehuntersmoon

Allow Intention to Arise

Summer is still in full swing, with some of the edge taken off as the weather shifts and the evenings are just a tiny bit shorter. Though for many of us, mentally, emotionally, and plan-wise, things are more edgy than ever as we begin to head into September in this uncharted year of 2020. It feels so counterintuitive in the moment to carve out time for your wellbeing when you feel stressed, busy, or uncertain, but it is absolutely essential -- you know this!

Creating any new habit starts with planting a seed, an intention. That applies to whether you want to find more groundedness and stability through organization, shift your perspective or outlook, or manage your baseline stress level. You do not have to figure it all out at once, but what you can do in the next couple of weeks is reflect on how you want to be and when you want to feel it. Some example intentions might be:

I have a higher perspective when I hear/read ever-changing information.

I am flexible with uncertainty.

I soak in joy when I connect with my family and friends.

I am doing my best in uncharted territory.

Spend some quiet time to let an intention rise up and then allow it to become a planted seed. Perhaps it will come to you while on a walk, gazing at the sunset, sitting around a fire pit, meditating, or some random moment between all the doing. Then let that seed spend some time in the ground, and while it soaks up nutrients, you can nurture it by continuing to come back to it like a mantra, journaling about it, or further meditating on connecting to the qualities of the intention.

The meditation and yoga videos on my website are one way you can connect back to yourself to allow your intention to rise to the surface. I created a Yin Yoga Chakra Series to lead you into a quieter place within yourself. The first in the series focuses on the root chakra, your energy center that keeps you grounded on a firm foundation. Subscribers can access all yoga and meditation content. I also added a 5 Minute Opening Meditation in my Try Before You Buy channel, open to all.

You have a deep well of resilience, tap into it. I am here for you.

Cultivating Friendliness

Yoga Sutra 3.24: Inner Strength manifests from the cultivation of friendliness

This sutra is one that illuminates itself when I read it. Friendliness is typically thought of as a manner in which we interact and greet people, and this is a wonderful practice.

What about also cultivating friendliness towards ourselves, and concerted friendliness in our approach to daily tasks and even objects? How about friendliness towards our own thoughts and emotions?

Spend one minute and approach everything with friendliness, absent of judgement. Then try one hour and perhaps one whole day. Where could it lead?

Here is a meditation to help reflect on friendliness.

1. Find a comfortable position.

2. Take some deep breaths, allowing thoughts and emotions to be present, yet beginning to settle down with your awareness on breath.

3. Bring to mind the word "friendliness."

4. What images, memories, people or ideas come up along with the word? If friendliness had a physical shape, what would it look like, feel like, sound like, smell like? What is its energy? Observe.

5. Now breathe in the energy of friendliness, and let it embody you. Notice what you feel in your body, mind, spirit.

6. Spend as much time as you wish exploring the concept and your connection to friendliness. When you are ready to release your meditation, become aware of breath and body and gently move back into your day.

Cultivate friendliness through samyama (simultaneous concentration, meditation, and deep absorption on a subject).

#meditation #friendliness #yogasutras