For thousands of years our ancestors have connected with the stars to help presence themselves upon the earth. Looking up at the sky we’re reminded of how we are a small and sacred part of a great wide vast web of life – beyond our conscious knowing.
The wisdom that travels through to us when we quietly connect with our natural world has the possibility of helping to support us through challenging times in our lives, as a way of self care. An anchor for me has been to go outside on a clear night and simply look up, I did this just last night after a special practice, gazing up at the stars and the moon almost in her fullness.
The stars are always there, shifting in their placement as we move through the seasons, but constant. It feels like they hold us in their loving gaze and presence.
In these quiet moments of wonder you may even notice your breath naturally travel a little deeper, and what emerges is often the truth of how you’re actually doing. When we give ourselves time to listen and be fully present to the experience our nervous systems are soothed, and we may even hear guidance about questions we’ve been pondering in unexpected ways.
As I look out my window, now in this moment on a cold and sunny Monday morning in Eastern Ontario, the first tides of spring are moving through the land (yes, even on this chilly day). We ready ourselves for the coming equinox and the constellations shift in the sky to where we are in cycle. This time of year our natural world whispers reminders that the warmer days of spring are coming as we find ourselves now past the coldest darkest days of winter.
The times we are living in are confusing, overwhelming, and sometimes it can be hard to maintain a sense of hope. Some days it may feel difficult to decipher your own truth amidst the chaos in our external world. I think sometimes the noise and chaos around us can easily throw us off course, and often quiets our guidance so it seems almost imperceptible. I’m writing about the stars because maybe in those quiet moments of reflection they can help to guide you to that place of hope and clarity that is quietly pulsing deep inside – even amidst the chaos.
The macrocosm of our world is changing, and the future is filled with so many unknowns. If we’re being honest the future has and will always be filled with unknowns, we have no idea what our next steps hold, however we do get to choose how we move in those steps.
Our self care requires us to begin by checking in with how we’re actually doing and showing ourselves compassion by feeling the sadness and overwhelm, the joy and excitement, the anger and the grief. It’s incredibly important to give ourselves space to honour what we’re truthfully holding in our hearts and allowing these emotions to move through us in a way that will help us to process these feelings.
From there, the ways we care for ourselves matter immensely. We start with smaller things; offering ourselves rest when we’re tired, hydrating our bodies, eating nourishing foods within what’s accessible for each of us, becoming curious about the wisdom of the seasons, and being gentle and kind with the messages we send ourselves.
I realize for so much of my life as a mom, and in my career as a massage therapist and yoga teacher, I focused on how I could best care for others. Over the past few years, since my own cancer diagnosis, I have come to realize that if I want to continue on this path that the answer is actually found in how I care for myself, in the small simple ways of ensuring I’m okay first unapologetically, and only then offering care and support outside of myself.
Sometimes our bodies and our minds struggle, this I deeply understand, which to me is a reminder of why the ways we tend to ourselves are incredibly important. Self care also asks us to to remember that we are part of a wider web of life – bigger and more expansive than the small perceived singular self, and that we heal in community, especially when the struggles feel to big to carry alone.
Through our acts of care, we get to know the parts that sometimes we didn’t even realize we contained, the parts that may have been numb or were kept very small out of fear of judgement, offering compassion to all these aspects of ourselves and to one another.
Many things have become non-negotiable for me over the past few years; unrolling my mat daily for my body and my spirit – not just for when I’m teaching, picking up a paintbrush with no expectations or judgement of what comes through on the canvas – just engaging in this activity as soul care, dancing and singing, sitting in the forest – literally doing nothing else except sitting there, resting when I need, giving my thoughts an outlet of expression in my journal, receiving bodywork, playing my drum or spending time with crystal bowls. These are all forms of therapy for me, part of the tapestry of my own wholeness which I know extends beyond just me.
I wonder what’s one small thing you can do today to offer yourself gentle care?
I also wonder what are the things that distract you from tending to your needs?
I sincerely hope that amidst the responsibilities of your life, and the external pulse with it’s ebb and flow, that you’re able to listen to what feels true for you, spiraling inwards to the internal pulse. What would feed your soul today even and especially in the smallest most subtle ways.
Our ancestors have much to teach us – in so many ways. The stars have provided constancy and guidance for thousands of years, I turn to them often, as part of my personal care.
Sending you lots of love
Amber
Consider upgrading to a paid subscription and enjoy a weekly reflection with some short practices found on my new substack page. This extra support is also included with all of my Willow and Oak movement memberships.
Recent Poem: Golden Wings and Red Peonies
Most recent seasonal newsletter: Winter Musings
Our next tending your inner garden circle will be held this coming April, stay tuned for more details.
Upcoming monthly Restorative Practice – Tuesday, March 24th from 7 – 8:30 pm EST held through zoom.
You are welcome to join us by donation, or if you have a monthly paid membership our monthly restorative class is free!
