Dear Ones,
These trees really set my heart aglow, do you feel it too? I'm going around minding my business and then I look up and WOW my spirit just lights up in awe. Constant miracles, unsubtle explosions of gorgeousness... and a reminder of the beauty of transformation, cycles, and letting go... for soon these branches will be bare (hopefully we will get some good storms), and it's into the dark Yin time we go-- well, really it's already here, but we'll go deeper....
Yin and Yang are intertwined; both are vital and essential aspects of each person's being, and of our world. We need the bright spark of fire and impulse and energy that is Yang, and we need the containment, the nourishing waters, the rich darkness, the depth of Yin. We NEED both of these to survive. Yet our culture constantly pushes us to stay up later, turn on more lights, do do do and go go go. Very Yang focused. It is no wonder that so many of us are deficient in Yin, and that even our beloved Earth is suffering from hot flashes and yin deficiency- global warming, fires, droughts. I pray that we get some good nourishing sustainable rains this season. And that each of us will nourish the Yin within, by cultivating time for rest, for darkness, for hydration, for going deep.
And just as Yin and Yang are always balancing each other and supporting one another, this deep Yin nourishing, soaking in a bath of Source and replenishment, helps us to tend our inner Yang- the pilot light in our belly, our inner hearth and heart fires- and shine a light on the pathway in a dark starry night. The pause and rest and quiet of Yin lets us listen and really hear (oh, and incidentally our ears are the related orifice for the Winter season- Kidney time- you can see more in the blog archives).
I often walk in the East Bay hills (how I love them so). Sometimes I will hear noise from tree trimmings or construction, loud dog barking, traffic, airplanes... but somehow still when I listen in I can hear the quiet of these hills. The sounds of the breeze, the trees, the birds, and underneath all of that a hush. A sense of peace, the smell of the pine trees, a stillness, a feeling of deep presence. The quiet is there aside from the distractions. An almost tangible quietness I can hear (and feel) if I listen in.
How can we do this in our everyday lives? Listening for that quietness, stillness, and peace, that is always there, even in the midst of all the noise of the news, work lives, family lives, anxiety, frustration, elections, busyness, and so on. Sometimes I can feel that calmness and still quiet deep in my belly and spine, allowing my heart uplift and free spaciousness for peace and joy. Lungs breathing, eyes seeing, connecting through my crown chakra: I set an intention to try to remember to listen for this quiet and feel this peace within, even in the midst of everything else. (Oh, and hey, as an aside- if you would like to meditate, and just haven't found a form that works for you, let's brainstorm together! There are so many ways to practice, so many helpful paths- it's not just one thing or way... I'm here for conversations about this if you've any interest.)
So on that note, a gentle reminder as we head into the holiday season:
PLEASE take good care of yourselves. There is only one you, and that person is a very special one. Please cultivate your Yin time so that you are sustainable. Tend to yourself the way you would take care of a beloved child or closest friend, the way you wish we would care for the Earth. We are all connected, part of the planet and each other.
May we live with lovingkindness.
Many blessings and much love to you,
Shoshana
