The Strength in Slowing Down
Heart of Moss
"It is still there, beneath the moss,
hidden from one's casual view -
like autumn hopes and strawberry Junes,
or castle walls beneath two moons
parting for a summer's tune
as plucked by one who'll love you.”
–Numi Who
Happy 2024! I'm filled with immense gratitude for you and to be with you on this life's journey! I hope that this new year is meeting you gracefully and with love.
The new calendar year was ushered in by much fog and rain in my neck of the woods. It felt like one long, moody expanse of days leading to New Year's Eve. An interesting end to an intense year. I spent time gazing out into the woods last week. The forest embodied a potent sense of outward stillness. Such a juxtaposition to the severe wind storm that ravaged the trees a few weeks prior. I wondered what conversations and communications were being had between all the trees, plants, and animal life out there. Some sleeping, some naked of leaves, some decomposing, and some seeds incubating in the earth. Instead of journeying to their spirits, I decided to just be among them, letting the wonder and awe of their stillness be the medicine.
The outward stillness of the trees felt like an invitation from nature, an urging, for me to slow my ever-spinning wheels. Not just my actions, the work of my feet and hands, but my mind as well. As I sat in reflection I was reminded of a meditation I experienced a couple of weeks ago. In the meditation, I was shown how my mind refuses to follow suit when I slow my physical body. I started to ask myself what the risk would be to give my mind permission to slow. I've been continuing to ask myself what the threat of a pause to endless thinking would be.
I haven't been rushing to find answers, just letting the questions float in my awareness. Certain parts of me have come to the forefront to show me where I need to start releasing and untangling from old energetic patterns. I see how parts of me are still rooted in past hurts and experiences that occurred while I was fully present with a slow and aware mind. Those parts of me still hold to the belief that being in the present moment will equate to something painful, unexpected, and harmful happening. And so speeding ahead will somehow protect me. There are also parts of me that hold strong points of view on experiencing a slowed and more peaceful mind. In the past this state of being left me vulnerable to ridicule, as I wouldn't be steps ahead of others to make sure the whole of me was safe.
These are very old ways of being. They are not seeded in current time. Looks like I will be weeding some old gardens this winter. What did the lead up to 2024 show you? Are you ready to uproot some outdated ways of being? I'd love to hear from you! Drop me an email!
Much love to you and your spirit,
Sara
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