Feeling the Feels + Pockets of Rest
With the full moon this week, I read this excerpt from my moon planner by Sarah Faith Gottesdiener and felt a full body YES:
“There is a larger message for the collective around nervous system stewarding and healing. Move out of the story and into sensation and the body. Make space to emote, express, shake, and move the energy out of your system. Bonus points if you do so in a way that you were taught to repress. Whatever you weren’t “allowed” to be or do: messy, loud, joyful, out of control, or angry might be excellent expressions to experience. Let it all out.” -Sarah Faith Gottesdiener
This is exactly the invitation I offer in breathwork.
Sarah probably wrote this sometime last year and while it was true then, it feels so on point for now. I won’t list out all the horrific and tragic and heartbreaking things that are happening daily for us and the world because it’s already right there on our phones and TVs.
What I will say is how grateful I am to all the folks who showed up and contributed their heartbeats and breaths to community healing with me recently.
Like one of my other favorite writers, Andrea Gibson, said, “let your heart break so your spirit doesn’t.”
February was a month of group work for me. From my public community groups at Conscious Alchemy to private circles who invited me to be with their people. From a small private group of three to a mutual aid fundraiser of fifty, we allowed space for us to be with our humanity. Each group adds its own magic, wisdom, perspective, humor, and generosity to the experience and, WOW, what a gift to let it ALL out.
And it's taking the moments of care and rest in between the action and activism that’s essential.
Speaking of rest, I’ve been thinking a lot about what that means and looks like! How do we stay grounded during these times? How do we tend to ourselves so we can still show up long term for the world we want to build? I found post from @brightblackcandle on Instagram helpful:
My word of the year this year is GENTLE and I’m wanting to build, create, live, and act from a place that also gently cares for myself. So this list of micro moments of rest feels inspiring, especially when life is full and busy.
Here are a few things I’m also doing, in case one resonates with you:
-snugs, playtime, and walks with my furs. They are such lovers!
-keeping my favorite snacks and treats on hand so my body feels cared for
-rereading fiction books at night before bed because my brain likes the predictably
-receiving bodywork
-lifting weights 2-3x a week to channel anger
-Bricking my phone for extended social media breaks (more on this in another post!)
-coffee dates for real life connection
-watching women’s basketball for doses of joy
-keeping daily tiny promises to myself: taking my creatine, getting my steps in, journaling/pulling tarot cards, a few minutes of breathwork
It’s not always easy or comfortable or convenient to make space for the feels, sensations, and our body’s pace.
So, if my word of the year inspires you this full moon, let’s go together gently, shall we?
JOURNAL PROMPTS:
-In honor of the full moon, what’s making my life feel full and alive right now in the best way?
-What small actions of rest feel doable and sweet for my body, mind, heart?
-In what spaces and with what people can I allow myself to have the full expression of who I am and what I’m going through right now?
SONG FOR BEING HUMAN: Human by Brandi Carlile on Spotify