Let the rain wash away any debris in your way. Send any scraps of self limitation to the compost pile. Drop off a bag of guilt at the GoodWill. One human’s item-she’s-been-holding-onto-out-of-guilt is another human’s treasure. Sweep out the dust of stuckness and make some space for more of yourself.
I want to be clear: I’m not talking about a new diet or exercise program. I’m never talking about that. What I want for myself and my community is much more sacred. It isn’t anything you need to buy or become. It’s more of an excavation of all that was placed upon you. Maybe it was this capitalist culture. Maybe it was your family of origin. Maybe it was some misguided humans you spent a lot of time with. Whatever it was– you can let go of any false notions on what you need to be, do, or eat. {Let me also say this– there’s nothing wrong with trying new things in the realm of movement and nourishment. Do you, boo!! My hope is that you can get underneath your desire to change, and make sure the roots are planted in the fertile soil of self compassion, rather than the barren land of not-enough-ness.} Okay- whew. With that low-key rant out of the way, let’s dig into this week’s ritual. Ingredients: A journal, a favorite pen, a place in your home that has potential to be for your at home self care Directions: Take yourself to a corner/ room/ or space in your house that has potential to be a sacred self-care area. It might a corner in your bedroom, a back patio, a little nook in your office. Walk your precious body to this space. Sit down. Close your eyes. Imagine yourself going there in the morning (or evening) to move, breathe, write, dance, &/or take care of you in any way. Imagine this space is inspiring and inviting you to go there, be there, and become more you there. What does this space look like and feel like? Is it open and spacious? Is there an alter or a book shelf? Spend some time contemplating your most special self-care area. After a few minutes of wild dreaming– write down your thoughts in your journal. Next: take 5 minutes to remove any items that don’t belong in your self care spot. It’s helpful to clear a space first and get acquainted with how you feel in an area before adding. It doesn’t have to be a big endeavor. It’s just you– clearing a space for you to be you (which is a huge deal). You just might find yourself inspired to continue this trend in other areas of your home that want a refresher. By all means, keep that happy momentum going! Free your physical environment of the excess, and notice how your body feels as a result.
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Specifically, you might begin to process what has happened in the past few months. Are there new ways you want to show up for yourself & your body? Life-giving habits you want to form or support? Dreams you want to manifest? Your work here is in naming how you’re feeling, working through the thawing soil of all you wish to release, and creating an atmosphere for your own personal growth.
This week’s ritual are here for this purpose. Ritual: Cultivating a relationship with your body in motion Ingredients: a journal, a favorite pen, a soft place to sit, a candle, a clear space to move Directions: Sit down with your journal and pen. Light your candle. Start by taking 3 deep breaths and connecting with your body. You can start by feeling your feet, wherever they are resting. Notice your hands, your jaw, your back. Shift around and get comfortable while you’re feeling into yourself. Next, ask yourself these questions:
Now, come back to your answers to the last question: if all obstacles were removed, this is how I would choose to move my body. Ask yourself, are these obstacles true and real? Is there room to change my relationship with these obstacles? Is it possible for me to add in 5-10 minutes of this style of movement to see how it goes?
This ritual is inspired by a book I recently read called The 5 Rhythms of the Soul by Gabrielle Roth.
Ingredients: --a kick ass playlist –5-30 minutes (depending on what you have the capacity for today) Directions: Once you’ve established some uninterrupted time for yourself, go to your space. Start by standing in stillness and feel your feet on the floor. Know that beneath the floor, the earth is supporting you. When you’re ready, turn on the music. Start to shake your hands like you’re trying to flick water off of them. This gets you out of your thinking mind and into your being mind. Expand the shaking to your entire arm and perhaps one leg at a time. After a few minutes of shaking, start to sway, dip, shimmy and hop. This could be called dancing, but don’t limit yourself to what society defines as dancing. Just be you, moving around and enjoying yourself. Get our your wild. Take deep breaths. Be with yourself. Trust your dance. <3 |
Paige DunfordPoetry. Blog Archive
March 2023
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