From Amber’s Mat – Page 5 – Amber Joy Young

The Birth Story Of Our Elephant

11th August 202111th August 2021Amber_Young

As we move through this lifetime we encounter many different ways we are supported to feel whole, this is our birthright, even though it can often feel like we’re being pulled apart.

Spending time in nature, connecting with the waters, the trees, and with all the creatures we share this planet with offers us another way to heal, and a deeper understanding and appreciation of how we are all connected. Often these are the moments we can feel whole again, even just for a breath.

As we nurture opportunities for self reflection, we may notice along our journey that there are certain animals or places we feel are kin, in ways often difficult to articulate in words.

I have loved elephants ever since I was a little girl, and have always felt a soulful connection with them (I sense I’m not alone here). When I reflect on their deeper meaning for me, what arises is this strong sturdy foundation, a reminder of the importance of healthy nonjudgmental community, ancestral wisdom, overcoming obstacles, deep listening, and supporting one another – in a true unconditional soul supportive way. This is why they easefully made their way into my Surya Daya symbol (thank you Auni Milne), our circle of elephants.

When Jessica and I were at a women’s retreat, in the fall of 2019, our beautiful Elephant Wisdom card was born. I was so excited when I saw the beginnings of Jessica’s creation. I can close my eyes and we’re there again, the sun shining down as we sat on the wooden steps by the soft flowing water in Quebec, such a healing and soul nourishing few days.

“I share a very special and sacred connection with my mom. She has always loved elephants, so I grew up with a love for them as well. When I met Amber, not only did she and my mom have the same birthday, they also shared a love for elephants.
My mom had journeyed to Thailand many years ago now, and I’ll never forget how happy she was when she recalled the time she spent with the elephants. A few years later, in my own travels, I moved to Thailand to teach English. The colourful and soulful markets were filled with these creatures; wooden carvings, silk pillow cases, clothing, jewelry, furniture, all with elephants! I loved my time living there, it was an experience like no other to be immersed in such a beautiful culture.

The wisdom of the ages lives inside of you.

Open yourself to the unconditional love and nurturance in your heart tribe, you know who they are. Now is a time in your life to hear their stories and let them hold you in silence. Listen to the wisdom they share, and attune to the wisdom of your own heart. There is healing found in deep listening, as understanding emerges.

Feel all of your connections in the web of life, now and through time. Gentle power and knowing is quietly waiting inside of you, but first you need to listen.

You are a being of light, treasured by all those who truly see you

Fast forward 13 years, I am now sitting on the steps at a beautiful retreat, looking onto the lake, I feel peace. It had been a challenging few years and I felt true peace when the tip of my pen made contact with the pink and blue watercolour foundation I had created. As I started my ink drawing our elephant was born.
Every time I read Amber’s words, the message the elephant offered to her, I feel comforted and reminded to listen to the wisdom of my heart,
always.

While we sat by the water, I spent time writing and reflecting on the unconditional love and support that has shown up in my own life. Thinking also about how I’ve experienced community in both unhealthy and healthy ways.

When I think back to that time, it reminds me that when we feel supported in the world, I think perhaps we can move through our lives with greater ease and compassion, genuine curiosity and our full presence.

This is where our elephant was brought to life, through the healing of that sacred space, nourished by the water, held in loving soul nourishing community.

We hope our beautiful elephant can serve as a wise friend, holding safe space for you when you need it most.

We want to give an extra special thank you to Victoria and Sonia for offering us safe space that weekend.

Photo credit to Jasmin Mori, of Joy in Motion Photography

With so much love, light, and joy,

Amber and Jess

Click here to find out more details about our Soul Wisdom Cards (including where to get yours). Each deck is personally bundled and filled with a special blessing for you.

The Gift Of Relaxation

5th August 2021Amber_Young

Did you know that there is no greater gift you can give yourself than a little break from all the busyness, even just a few precious moments of relaxation.

YOU can help yourself restore equilibrium in any moment.

We often think we need a physical vacation (which don’t get me wrong after a year and half being in a roller coaster of lockdown and isolated in our homes this would probably be pretty helpful), but there are ways we can also revitalize ourselves without having to go anywhere.

I invite you to make your way into a comfortable position, either sitting or laying down. Make sure your body feels supported, taking your time to settle. If it feels comfortable you may want to slowly close your eyes and start to deepen your breath. Bring your awareness to your belly and simply feel the gentle rise with your inhale and the softness in your belly as you exhale.

After a few cycles of breath, give yourself a moment to sense yourself – you may feel recharged already, or you may be a little more aware of how much you’re holding in this moment.

I wonder if you can now bring your attention to the top of your head and your forehead. With your inhale – tensing every muscle in this area and as you exhale release and relax your muscles. Welcome in a deep breath. Now bring your attention to the muscles around your eyes and your nose, again tensing as you inhale and allowing a slow release as you exhale. Make your way from the top of your head to the tips of your toes, alternating between tension and intentional relaxation, not missing a part of your beautiful body temple.

When you’ve journeyed through every part of your physical body, take a big full breath and tense EVERY part of you, pause after your inhale holding the tension, and with a big powerful exhale release and soften through your whole body.

Engaging in a full body progressive relaxation practice, offers us an important reminder of the difference between a restrictive and an easeful relaxed state – we often forget what the experience of relaxation feels like, especially if we spend a lot of time unconsciously holding the weight of the world in our bodies.

As you cycle between contraction and relaxation, it’s important to give yourself permission to surrender into the experience of relaxation. Believe me, I know this is not always easy.

The history of our lives weaves a web through our tissues; the small day to day stresses, the life changing moments of joy, and also moments of trauma that touch our lives.

Working hands on with people for the past 20 years, I have felt and witnessed the effects on the mind and the body when we just keep going. The stories and the associated stress continue to accumulate in our tissues, unless we make a conscious choice on a regular basis, to give ourselves permission to unwind the imprints of stress and to create, or recreate, internal space.

This is a practice remember, and the more you carve out time for intentional relaxation, the more you’re also showing yourself compassion and self love.

This complete relaxation exercise supports the parasympathetic branch of your autonomic nervous system – this is where we heal from. As we release tension through the body, we also may start to notice that many of our self imposed limitations and our armoring begins to fall away.

Over time you may notice you have more patience, you may find you feel clearer and you have more energy, and as you start to shift internally you simply begin to feel better in body, mind and spirit. I wonder if Edmond Jacobson knew the gift he was giving us back in 1920 when he invented and studied the effects of this practice. For this I am grateful.

If you can, take at least 10 – 15 minutes after the progressive relaxation practice to relax and simply breathe, soak in the effects of this mini full body renewal.

We are living in such a wild time, and so much is coming at us from all over, I write this today as a reminder that your nervous system needs this time, not only your nervous system, but every part of you needs this time.

Be gentle with yourself and I urge you to send compassion and kindness to the parts of you that may resist this experience. Honour their stories, and offer them a new way of being in your body.

Sending you love on your journey,

Amber

Just a reminder that I’m taking the next little while off of my live teaching – following my own advice and honouring the need for some integration. I will also be taking a journey this month to sit with my mom.

I do have additional wellness support which will continue during this time, offered to you in a way that honours your own unique schedule, through a monthly video subscription

Click here to find out more details about our Soul Wisdom Cards.

Unbinding

5th August 20219th August 2021Amber_Young

Welcome to your Wednesday wellness reflection.

This week I find myself reflecting on all of our relations; those we know through our maternal and paternal blood lines, those we know in our blood, breath and bones, those we share the land with.

As I witness the unbinding of my mom, I am urged to reflect a little deeper on my own place in the world, and the stories that make up the web of my own life.

She has been fading for many years now, as Dementia steals the narrative of her life and with it parts of my own.

What makes it so difficult is their constant struggle and confusion, and the repeated goodbyes. Over time your heart breaks a little more. Never knowing if they’ll know who you are the next time you connect, if they’ll remember the sound of your voice, the stories you’ve shared or even your relation to them.

Sometimes, with hope in your heart, they’re back – often for a fleeting moment, and then they’re gone again.

Witnessing her journey, it reminds me how we ruminate over so many things, often things that in the grand scheme of a life lived, don’t really matter. All of sudden, one day, all those worries unravel and disappear.

I think about those things so many of us dream about doing “one day”, the stories you intend to write through your life once you reach a certain stage, or simply “one day” – I beg you to consider to write the first word of that chapter today, even if you’re just taking a baby step in that direction. Respecting your circumstances, make yourself your biggest priority, because one day, we’re all immersed in the big mystery – and those stories don’t have the opportunity to be written in the unique way you would have created them in this lifetime.

Honour the life you have been given, perhaps it’s not the most comfortable journey – but perhaps tomorrow you will take steps to better support yourself. Maybe breaking patterns, maybe asking for help, maybe taking the long talked about road less traveled – it exists.

Try not to regret your stories, rather learn from them. Integrate the lessons from the challenges, and remember the joy found in those moments that were so beautiful you don’t even have words to reflect on them. TRY if you can, to savour more of those moments and notice them when they arrive.

We’ve been through a hard story, that we all share the baseline to, let’s remember to listen to eachother and honour each other’s stories, as we start to come together in community again. Reach out to those people that bring you peace and honour the core of who you actually are. DO those things you have always dreamt about starting – life is fragile and fleeting, I am acutely aware of this truth.

Remembering my mother’s stories, and the stories that created her foundation, also offers me a softness towards who she was and the life she lived, one I wish I could show her now. We don’t always realize the gifts we were given until they are gone.

Sending you love on your journey

Amber

Wishing you wellness in body, mind and spirit on your own unique journey, emerging in your own time and honouring the narrative of your life.

If you’d like to practice together, I offer weekly live online zoom classes, and as an additional support for you to practice on your own schedule, but together, I’ve created a video library and a monthly video subscription

Bringing Our Hands Together At Our Heart

21st July 202119th July 2021Amber_Young

How are you doing? Take a moment and listen to what arises for you today – honour the truth of how you are, in this moment, in this breath. I don’t want a patterned answer, or one you might think I want to hear, I want to know how you truly are in this moment – on all ends of the spectrum.

Last week I was guided to explore Anjali Mudra a little deeper by one of my own teachers, Barrie Risman. We’ve been exploring this practice in my community classes as well.

Anjali means “reverence” and refers to the honouring of the divinity within ourselves and all beings. When we come into Anjali mudra we are balancing all of our polarities – within and without. Joseph and Lilian Le Page remind us that this gesture directs breath, awareness and energy into the center of the chest, supporting us to turn inwards toward our authentic being and understanding on a subconscious level that we are all connected.

Anjali mudra calms the mind, reducing our stress and potentially lowering the blood pressure. This posture helps to release tension through the shoulder blades, and supports the health of your immune system.

As we consciously bring our action oriented hands to meet at our heart center, we honour the guidance found within. When we meet ourselves here, the answers often flow clearly through us – not always easy, but the answers we seek become clear. This reminder supports us in making decisions and traveling our path with compassion and integrity.

As my hands came together this morning, I was filled with a memory. Many moons ago I studied various massage and cancer trainings with Tracy Walton, she invited us to massage as if it was the last time the person you were working with was going to be touched – or perhaps the last time you were ever going to touch someone. She asked us to really show up and be present to not only our time massaging – but to our whole life experience – to live as if it was equally the first time and the last time you were here experiencing this moment. Arriving with curiosity and departing with reverence. The sacredness that ripples into our life experience with this perspective is beautiful. I extend this invitation to you, to be present in every moment; from exploring Anjali mudra as your hands make contact, to holding a hand, to sipping your tea, to yes, even doing the dishes.

Sometimes I think about how my life would be without these practices, and then I return to my mat.

Please join your hands in front of your heart with your palms facing together, fingers directed up towards the sky.
Press your finger pads, the base of your fingers, and the inner and outer edges of your hands gently together
Allow a slight openness at the center of your palms.
Fanning your fingers apart from one another – honouring the space around your heart.
The outer borders of your thumbs coming into contact with your sternum ( breastbone).
Relax your shoulders back and down, with your elbows held slightly away from the body and the spine naturally aligned.
Bring a slight nod to your head, and follow the gentle journey of your breath

I bring my hands together at my heart center, and I bow to you.

With much Love, Amber

If you’d like to practice together, I offer live in person and online zoom classes, (which will be taking a break through the month of August and resuming in September) and as an additional support for you to practice on your own schedule, but together, I’ve created a video library and a monthly video subscription

Click here to find out more details about our Soul Wisdom Cards.

Your Whole Self

15th July 2021Amber_Young

I find so many things swimming around in my thoughts these days, I think perhaps it’s safe to say this may be the case for many of us.

As we’ve moved through this past year and a half, we’ve been given so much to reflect on, and this continues. Identifying priorities in our lives as we understand our own truth a little more, and maybe finding the courage within ourselves to speak that truth with a little more strength.

I think it’s important to also take some time for yourself to acknowledge the collective experience of grief this period in our lives has brought each of us – for lives lost, for moments missed, for forced separation from those we love. I’m really feeling that collective experience right now. This is going to look differently for each of us, but it is felt in some way by all of us. I strongly believe we need to carve out some intentional time to integrate, find out the deeper meaning for you, honour whatever emotions arise and take time to be honest with yourself with how you’re doing – deep down inside. As we transition to this next chapter of our lives, really savour heartfelt hugs, embrace your connections and nurture those relationships where you find unconditional love and reciprocity.

Time on our mats can be a profound place to reflect and to support this integration – in our bodies and through our breath.

It’s easy to get carried along with those around you if you don’t take this time, swimming in all the thoughts. For your own mental, emotional and spiritual health – take some time to ground yourself in how you’re doing now, in this moment.

This morning as I sat in meditation on one of my favorite moss covered rocks I was given the honour of listening in on 2 owls as they had an early morning conversation from the treetops. These moments are magic, and they seem to bring me back to my center without trying to get anywhere. I just seem to arrive.

The sun was rising, the mosquitoes were making themselves known, and these 2 wise beings connecting overhead. I felt like I was listening in on the most sacred of conversations. When I wended my way back down the path to my home, I came across a brilliant quote (certainly not by accident) which I kind of think we all need to hear right now, and perhaps what the owls were sharing with me this morning.

“We don’t have to compromise, ever, and settle for an almost version of who we are. We do not have to conform to some external truth, some version of what someone else is telling us is better, or more right, or more holy, more human. We don’t have to fit in. Isn’t that the most blessed thing we could ever be told, or could remember? We don’t have to fit in. We don’t have to contort who we are in order to fit a mold that was never meant for us”
Meggan Watterson

Don’t be afraid to have different opinions, or make different choices, especially right now – honour you, there’s only one of you, so if you’re busy being like everyone else then we lose the gift of what only you can bring into this world.

It’s also okay to take your time with your reemergence, as we begin again. Think things through for yourself right now, and lead with compassion (starting with yourself). Try to refrain from judging others for seeing the world differently than you, instead learn from one another – and lead by letting your whole self be seen.

Our world can change in the blink of an eye – so what are you waiting for?

With so much love, Amber

I just want to acknowledge the owl picture above was taken by my dear friend (and soul wisdom cards co-creator) Jessica Hibberd. The owls this morning didn’t let me see them, this was taken a few months ago.

If you’d like to practice together, I offer live online zoom classes, and as an additional support for you to practice on your own schedule, but together, I’ve created a video library and a monthly video subscription

I do want to share that I will be taking a teaching break through the month of August – time for me to integrate and renew before the autumn is upon us! My Patreon videos will continue, but apart from my Monday afternoon Carebridge classes – I will be taking a break from live online classes and resuming (online and in person) classes in September.

Click here to find out more details about our Soul Wisdom Cards.

Moon Reflections, Soul Wisdom and an Introduction

12th July 2021Amber_Young

New Moon blessings to you as we introduce our

SOUL WISDOM self – reflection cards

2 years ago my dear friend (and soul sister) Jessica Hibberd and I, experienced the first stirrings of the seeds for this incredible and transformative project. This started as a personal exploration, and over time we realized this was a little divine spark traveling through us. It has been amazing to experience their evolution into a beautiful offering we’re honoured to share with you. This project was also supported and encouraged by so many, and we are so grateful to each of you.

Working with the cycles of the moon, drawing on the inspirations of animals and our sacred earth, as well as our own personal teachers and guides along the way; we have birthed these self-reflective cards into being. They are intended as companions on your path, to urge you forward and support you to dive deeper into understanding your own soul wisdom.

Each of these cards has been born out of love, joy and a deep respect for the medicine contained in our natural world.

We started with our beautiful Goddess Energy Card and found ourselves at completion with our precious fox, holding the intention of Kindness.

The inspiration for the images came to Jessica while traveling on sacred sites around the world; at yoga and dance retreats, sitting in meditation by the water, and time spent in reflection.

When Jessica was ready she shared the magic of her creations with me. Carving out sacred windows of time to get to know each card, often at the roots of a tree or quietly by the water, listening to what they had to share. There was no rush with this process, allowing the layers of their messages to unfurl in their own time.

The slow thoughtful way we moved through this project, was such a good teaching for our own personal process along the way.

We created 13 cards aligning with the 13 new moons in our lunar cycle of a year, which seems fitting to share our Reflection card with you today.

Reflection

Did you know that you are the cycles of the moon, in all their grace, ease and intensity. Are you willing to honor the rhythms that you were born to live. It is time to lean in and let go of how you think things should be, rather embrace what is in this moment.

Understand your cycles through your body, emotions and spirit. Find time every day to connect and revel in the clarity that is born from this process.

Learn to love the magic found in the darkness and the light. You have one life experience in this body, the choice to surrender or resist is up to you.

You are magic unfolding.

The moon holds so much support, a constant guide in the sky, if we take the time to understand how we are affected as we move through the monthly cycle, and honour the changing rhythms around and within us. For each of us these cycles will feel different.

Slowly over time we find a little more ease in ourselves as we learn to move with the flow rather than against it.

As we rest in the dark moon (when there is no moon visible in the sky), we often find ourselves in a time of introversion and quieter more restorative practices are helpful. A time we can focus on deep healing. During the dark moon we can reflect on decisions we’ve made, experiences we’ve had, and take this crucial time to rejuvenate. It offers us a pause.

The new moon happens the day after the dark moon, it marks a birth, a fresh cycle beginning to emerge. This is a good time to set personal intentions and to welcome in new beginnings. It’s also an important time to be extra gentle on yourself, and to honour renewal in your life as you begin to emerge from the dark moon. From the darkness, the new moon brings with it fertile ground to plant seeds for what we want to attract and bring into our life.

During the new moon it is a potent time to meditate, journal, set intentions, move your body, organize and reflect on the next steps in your life.

When we approach the full moon, we can sometimes feel the intensity of the energy a little louder. In yoga the full moon is a symbol of the fullness of our inner selves. Barrie Risman shares “that it reminds us of the perfection that lies within each human being, even when it gets obscured or partially hidden from view.” It’s a good time to celebrate how far you’ve come, celebrating the seeds you’ve nurtured and brought to life, as well as the growth you’ve experienced. In the fullness of the moons light, we can also take this time to shed light on the patterns that perhaps you’re ready to let go of.

Risman reminds us that the full moon honours our humanness, I love this– the bright light against the dark sky, honouring the beauty, the vulnerability and the mystery.

Embrace the support the cycles of the moon can offer you, even simply as anchor points month to month through your journey and the growth found in your self-reflective practices over time.

This has been an amazing project and through this creation we realize how dedicated we are to the healing path in front of each of us, knowing in our hearts that when we support one another we truly thrive.

You will know intuitively the best way for YOU to work with this sweet little offering as it leaves our hands and enters yours. However you decide to work with this deck, it’s important to trust yourself and your process. It is our hopes that you will allow these cards to be a companion on your path, their messages were whispered through us to share with YOU.

With so much love, Amber (and Jess)

Click here to find out more details, including where to purchase your own deck.

To see more of Jessica’s creations click here.

Wishing you wellness in body, mind and spirit on your own unique journey, emerging in your own time and honouring the narrative of your life.

Love Is An Action

2nd July 20212nd July 2021Amber_Young

Today feels like a good day for a little deeper reflection. I don’t know about you, but it’s been quite a week! Take a moment and check in with yourself.

What does this breath feel like? How does your body maybe need a little extra support today? This is where we start from.

It is my hopes that within the window of Canada Day yesterday, that perhaps there was a moment of reflection for you. Maybe not the celebration of days gone by, but perhaps some time to reflect on the trauma that the Indigenous people of this land have experienced and the pain that continues. Holding so many in my heart these days, often it feels overwhelming, but then we take a deep breath and know just how important this safe holding is right now.

I know through my own personal commitment that supporting yourself to show up for yourself on a daily basis and doing what you know you need to support yourself in body, mind and spirit; provides stability, gives you strength, and can help build your own resilience and internal resources.

If we can’t even take care of ourselves, how then can we support others?

I know that being called to be an active support for the injustices in our world asks this of us. It takes strength, courage and determination to break patterns. My friend Anna Karuna Egan reminded me in an email this morning that living with wisdom and compassion is possible, her teacher taught her that Love is an Action, I think I needed this reminder today. Thank you Anna for inspiring me to share my own thoughts today.

We can act differently as we move forward, being led by love. Don’t underestimate YOUR actions, and the ripples that happen, often with the simplest and smallest of steps forward. The more we attune to love, the more easefully it shows up in our lives as a constant, and the more we support not only ourselves, but others to heal..

It’s important to have uncomfortable conversations and to listen to peoples stories. It’s also important to know in your heart of hearts, that you can make very different choices for yourself going forward.

With so much love,

Amber

Click here to find out more details about our Soul Wisdom Cards.

Circle Of Balance

16th June 202118th June 2021Amber_Young

As a response to the past few weeks, I find myself thinking alot about how and where I spend my time and focus my energy.

When I teach breast health and relaxation workshops, this is often something we move through together, or people take home to work with. An important support to revisit on a regular basis in considering your overall health and wellbeing.

What about YOU? How do YOU spend your time?

As we begin to consider the ways we want to step forward in our lives, perhaps in a new way, it feels like a good time to move through this exercise.

Oh, I’ve had my moments, and if I had to do it over again, I’d have more of them. In fact I’d try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day
– N. Stair, 85-year-old woman from Kentucky

Before you approach this practice I encourage you to take some time to move your body, in whatever way best supports you. Turning to your yoga mat, putting on some music that makes your soul happy, going for a walk in the forest, or inviting another form of movement into your body. Sometimes the safety of your practice gives you the opportunity to release and process wherever you are right now – you have to start where you are.

Once you’ve cleared a bit of space inside of yourself, grab a piece of paper and let’s do some self reflection.

I invite you to draw 2 big circles – one is for your reality now, and one is for your ideal.

Take a bit of time to silently reflect and explore the different roles you play in your life, and the ways you divide your time. Be honest here, remember this is just for you.

You might want to make a list of the things you engage in on a daily or weekly basis, maybe including things such as;

Play / Family / Work / Exercise / Relaxation / Time alone / Creativity / Spirituality / School + Study/ Time with friends / Sleep / Prayer / Travel / Chores / Rest / etc….

Now we’re going to divide our circle into a visual reflection of how we spend our time.

Focus on your first circle, drawing pie pieces representing the amount of time you engage in different activities throughout your day. The size of each piece should be representative of how much time you spend in each activity. You can either base it on a 24 hour period, or a weekly snapshot.

First I encourage you to write out your actual life experience, then take a few minutes and just sit with that circle of balance.

How do you feel?

Now, I invite you to fill in the second circle with your ideal – how could your pie look different to better support your ability to feel more rested, happier, and more whole. What can you do to make your actual your ideal? Set some goals of what you can change to make that happen.

How could you manifest more balance?
In what ways, if at all, are you taking time out for you?
How can you honour all “those roles” into an integrated whole?

Remember this is it, this is the only time you get to experience this life in this particular body, what do you need to do different to honour YOUR needs, YOUR life – this is not being selfish, this is being self respectful.

I honestly believe we are all meant to be happy.

It’s a good idea to post your ideal circle somewhere to keep you on track with your priorities, this will help you to stay inspired and as a reminder to carve out windows for the things that feed your soul. Maybe check in next month and see how things in your circle of balance have shifted – or not.

Remember your life is how you perceive it and how you experience it, and the way you spend your time is ultimately always up to you.

I wish you for so much health and happiness
I wish for you to be filled with loving kindness
I wish for you to be peaceful and at ease, I know it’s not always easy, but I wish this for you
And I wish for you to be happy, from deep inside.

With so much love

Amber

Wishing you wellness in body, mind and spirit on your own unique journey, emerging in your own time and honouring the narrative of your life.

The Butterfly And The Cocoon – A Retelling

19th May 202119th May 2021Amber_Young

This morning I find myself reflecting on a story that has been shared with me countless times. I first read this gem as it was shared by Gurmukh in her book, The 8 Human Talents, and most recently it showed up in my inbox from H.H. Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, whose Ashram (Parmarth Niketan) I spent time at on the banks of the Ganges, over a decade ago when I traveled in India and Nepal.

This story reminds me of that journey and the cocoon I traveled through to a deeper place of personal understanding and growth. It was definitely not a journey of complete ease and comfort – but incredibly important. It also reminds me of all the pivotal phases and cocoons of my life – including the one we are currently collectively moving through, in our present life experience.

It is an honour to pass this story on to you now for our wellness reflection this week, perhaps familiar to you, and like me, maybe arriving at a time when a retelling would be helpful.

Stories contain medicine, and it is the passing of stories from generation to generation, where so many gems that help us make sense of our own lives, are found. I hope you will always share your stories, and listen to those that come to you – those born from your own life and those shared with you through time.

“There was once a man who noticed an intricately woven cocoon on a tree outside his home. He carefully watched the cocoon every day in order to catch the first glimpse of the precious butterfly he knew would one day emerge. With excitement, the day had arrived, he saw a tiny hole in the cocoon which grew quickly as the hours passed. He sat watching the butterfly navigate its way out of the cocoon. Suddenly he noticed that it seemed the butterfly had stopped making progress. The hole did not get any larger and the butterfly seemed to be stuck. The cocoon was bouncing up and down on the branch as the butterfly tried to squeeze itself unsuccessfully, through the hole that it had created.

The man watched in dismay as it seemed the butterfly would not be able to emerge. Not knowing what to do, but feeling like he needed to step in, he took a small pair of scissors and carefully cut the cocoon, allowing the butterfly to emerge easily.

However, instead of soaring gracefully into the sky, the butterfly immediately dropped to the ground.

He noticed that the butterfly’s stomach was swollen and distended but its wings were small and shriveled, unable to fly. He assumed that after some time, the stomach would shrink and the wings would expand, and this precious being would fly in its fullest glory.

However, this was never to be.

The man didn’t know that it was the very act of forcing one’s body through the tiny hole in the cocoon which would push all the fluid from the stomach into the wings. Without that external pressure, the stomach would always be swollen and the wings would always be shriveled.”

In life we often avoid challenges, sometimes consciously – and sometimes unconsciously, looking for the easy way out. We look for people who will ‘cut our cocoons,’ so that we maybe don’t have to work quite as hard and push our way through.

However, little do we realize that it is going through those times of difficulty which prepare us for what lays ahead. As we overcome the obstacles that present themselves on our path and grow through their lessons, with our own internal resources, they enable us to fly and sometimes offer us opportunities to expand our wings to great unimaginable lengths.

I think perhaps this story also offers a gentle reminder that you need time for self-nurturance and to consider your own needs for care, this is how you build your resources, so you can squeeze through those small holes. It’s important to acknowledge your vulnerabilities and accept the strength and support of your community, your heart tribe; and from that supported place, we rise from the strength that lives deep inside of us.

I don’t think the man in this story realized how powerful and supportive his simple presence was, that was all that was needed. I think often that’s all any of us truly need, safe space to process whatever it is we’ve been handed on our life’s journey.

My soul support is here holding you, honouring your deep internal strength – trust in who you are at your core, I’m just offering you a gentle reminder.

Much love

Amber

Wishing you wellness in body, mind and spirit on your own unique journey, emerging in your own time.

Photo by EDD Sylvia Nenntwich on Pexels.com

After A While

12th May 2021Amber_Young

After a while you will learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and changing a soul

You will learn that love doesn’t mean leaning and company doesn’t mean security

And you begin to learn that kisses aren’t contracts and presents aren’t promises

And you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes open, with the grace of an adult, not the grief of a child

And you build all your roads on today, because tomorrows ground is uncertain for plans

After a while you learn that even sunshine burns if you get to much

So plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers

And learn that you really can endure, that you really are strong

And you really do have worth

– Anonymous

This piece was given to me when I was 19, and leaving the house I grew up in, almost 30 years ago. I think I’m starting to finally understand.

Take a bit of time to simply sit with this piece, a little time for self reflection. Notice whatever arises.

The more we can practice self acceptance and understanding, the easier it is to breathe, and in time grow a little more fully into the person we’re here to be.

The world needs YOU, underneath all the layers life has thrown on you.

Thank you for sharing this little window with me

Much love

Amber

Wishing you wellness in body, mind and spirit on your own unique journey.