-
Taking Care of Yourself This Holiday Season
While the holiday season can be quite joyous, it can also bring up a lot of stress and overwhelm – and for some, it can stir up feelings of pain or loneliness. According to the American Institute of Stress, more than 110 million Americans take medication for stress-related causes each week. And when the holidays come along, people already predisposed to stress can find themselves feeling blue and more anxious than usual. Even those who don’t ordinarily feel stressed under the pressure of events or deadlines, still find that the holiday season can play havoc on day-to-day routines. So what can we do? “Plan for stress,” say the experts – just like you plan ahead for any calamity you want to avoid. The more prepared…
-
The Journey of Synchronicity
Imagine being outside on a cool, crisp autumn evening, looking up above and seeing dozens of stars scattered throughout the night sky. They seem to be sparkling with a magical energy that you don’t quite understand, yet you somehow feel connected to it. You sense that the stars “know” what your dreams are and what your passions are – and they’re beckoning you to follow your heart. They appear to have the answers – the answers you’re searching for as you begin to ponder a new beginning for yourself, either personally or professionally – maybe both. As you begin to ponder the direction you want to take and what next steps are needed to get there, think back to the many messages that have been…
-
Finding Light in the Darkness
Like the moon, we all go through phases in our lives. We have ups and downs, we go forward and backward – and sometimes we seem to circle back around. We may hide behind the clouds or peek from beneath the clouds. But in the midst of what can feel like a blackout, when we are open to making a connection with our authentic self, we can get to a point where we’re able to beam with full light. During a new moon phase, the sky is completely black, with the exception of little sparkles of light in the form of stars. It’s the point in every month when the moon takes a retreat and begins to grow again, redoubling her light and reflecting new…
-
Where Are You Facing a Creative Struggle?
Spring came knocking at the door earlier this week, but winter refused to open it! As evidenced by these ice crystals spotted around my local pond yesterday, there appears to be a real struggle going on between these two. And to add to it, winter has decided to give us one more snowstorm. Yep, March has definitely come in like a lion – and may go out like one, too! As a lover of symbolism, I’m always paying attention to signs from nature – and how they want to guide my creative process. So I’m asking myself, what wants to be noticed here? As I witness the crocuses popping up through the ground – and admire the glistening of the ice crystals, I can’t help…
-
A New Year of New Beginnings
As you begin to move into another new year filled with opportunities for new beginnings, notice what is starting to stir in you. Allow yourself to connect with any emotions that are rising to the surface. Pay attention to what synchronicities are suddenly appearing. What is being awakened within you? What is beginning to bloom around you? Take a moment to ponder these questions, then read the poem below. For a New Beginning In out-of-the-way places of the heart, Where your thoughts never think to wander, This beginning has been quietly forming, Waiting until you were ready to emerge. For a long time it has watched your desire, Feeling the emptiness growing inside you, Noticing how you willed yourself on, Still unable to leave what…
