nature

  • Today marks the official first day of spring in the northern hemisphere. Here in Philly, we’ve had a few weeks of warmer weather already and the first-to-bloom flowers are out in full force. I love how they pop up out of last year’s leaves decaying on the forest floor.

    ‘Tis the season for spring cleaning. I’m not feeling the usual pull to wash the windows and sweep the baseboards. The green juices and cleansing herbs aren’t appealing to me this year either.

    What I’m really sensing is an urge to clean up my calendar. Where am I wasting time? Frittering it away in 3 minute chunks of absentminded scrolling? How do I spend my precious energy in ways that aren’t fulfilling or are downright detracting from my life-force?

    I’m interested in cleaning up my energetic output and that requires a brutally honest assessment of impulsive and unconscious behaviors. It helps to know what I truly value and how that time might be better spent. I have a date with my journal to explore how I’m investing my priceless attention and how to maximize my returns.

    Side note: we’re entering the light half of the year. Many are cheering the longer days, higher temps, and upcoming summer season. For all the weirdos like myself who prefer the darker, colder months, it helps me to remember that I’ll enjoy the fall so much more after having experienced the heat and humidity of August.

    I’m attempting to adapt more gracefully to the rhythms of nature and it all starts with my attitude. So, dear summer, I know you’re coming and I’m going to do my very best to make friends with you this year.

    Wherever you are, in the world or in your preferences, I wish you a peaceful transition on this day that is such a powerful turning point.

    Happy equinox!

    Happy Equinox!

    Today marks the official first day of spring in the northern hemisphere. Here in Philly, we’ve…

  • Full transparency: I am borrowing this tag line from a student. But it’s just so brilliant I have to share it! 20/20 is the term ophthalmologists use to describe normal eyesight. Well, we’re taking it a step further and claiming 2020 as the year of Perfect Vision, the foundation to uncovering the soul’s calling as well as the guidance and motivation necessary to pursue it.

    It’s helpful to know where you want to go before your start charting your journey. It’s also helpful to clean out your trunk so you’re not hauling around crap from the past decade on your adventure. Perhaps most helpful of all is tuning up your vehicle, paying attention to all the systems that allow it to run smoothly. Self-care, -kindness, -discovery, and -awareness are the corollary steps in creating an intentional lifestyle.

    For me yoga, Reiki, and nourishment are essential building blocks in this process. No news there; you’re heard me say this 10,000 times already! Over the past year I’ve benefited greatly from several other teachings that really upped my game, and I’m very eager to share them here in the hopes others might also profit. If you’re looking to maximize your potential in the new year, you might find some guidance here.

    I could spend the next month extolling the virtues of these lessons. Instead I’ll provide links to websites allowing you to do your own research. The three teachers I’m mentioning have a variety of courses as well as very generous newsletters which can be a risk-free gateway into their work. I respect and admire their contributions to personal growth and spiritual awakening and am incredibly grateful for the wisdom they’ve shared.

    Sharon Blackie’s Courting the World Soul online course totally blew my socks off. I’m still digesting the amazing material of this 8 week course, which is a mix of depth psychology, mythology, and more. She has set me on a journey of discovering my roots to help find belonging in a world that generally makes no sense to me.

    Layla Martin offers a free Radiant Queen Masterclass which includes simple practices for liberating the wild feminine energy that most of us women were taught very early on to lock down. She’s a vibrant teacher of tantra, sexual empowerment, and liberation from the bonds of patriarchal programming. I highly recommend checking this out, especially if that last sentence makes you uncomfortable!

    I’m really learning a lot from Rick Hanson’s Growing the Good yearlong meditation program. His background as a Buddhist and neuro-psychologist reveals a fascinating intersection of east/west, ancient tradition/modern science. Understanding my nervous system better allows me to experience calm more frequently. ‘Nuff said!

    Perhaps more transformative than all of the above is the time I’ve spent in nature. I just can’t get enough time amongst the trees! Sitting by the creek breathing the ki-infused air is where my deepest healing and best ideas happen. I’ve applied to a volunteer training program to further my knowledge of the local wooded treasure as well as to gain skills for sharing it with others. If you’re in the Philly area, Friends of the Wissahickon offers loads of guided hikes. Wherever you are, no doubt there is a patch of land that needs your appreciation.

    And finally, I’m over the moon with my latest oracle card purchase. The Wild Unknown Archetypes is a beautiful deck and has been tremendously helpful for accessing my inner wisdom. They’ve been a big hit at recent community Reiki circles and I’m planning to bring them to this week’s event. Join us if you’re in the neighborhhood!

    It’s my sincerest wish that 2020 brings you great peace, health, wealth, and happiness. Perhaps one of these tools can help you further your goals. As always, I’m available for Reiki (in person and remote) and massage sessions to get your year on track and uncover the benefits of Perfect Vision.

    2020: The Year of Perfect Vision

    Full transparency: I am borrowing this tag line from a student. But it’s just so brilliant…

  • Businessman meditating in a parkThe weather, my schedule, and my energy level all lined up in a magnificently cooperative way which allowed me to go for a hike in the woods this morning. Nature is my happy place. Living in Philadelphia, I no longer have daily access to the ocean as I did when I lived on the coast of California. However, we do have an amazing urban park that has the magical quality of making me feel like I’m on vacation.

    Being outside and breathing fresh air, surrounded by the lush beauty of Mother Nature feeds my soul deeply. After a few minutes I begin to feel more alive, more myself, more radiant. It seems as though the greenery is scrubbing my aura clean; like a car wash but for the energy field. Trees embody the energy of earth and water from below and fire and air from above, providing a tangible balance of  the elements. I can easily understand why Druids believed the forests to be sacred.

    Having started my day filling up with bliss from being outside, moving my body, and quieting my mind has set me up with an amazing mood. There aren’t many activities I know of that provide physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual regeneration all at once. Having easy access to the woods (complete with gorgeous creek nonetheless!) is truly a blessing and I cherish it every time I visit.

    Radical Self-Care, Nature Rules!

    The weather, my schedule, and my energy level all lined up in a magnificently cooperative way…