Hello Substack Family!
It’s been a while since I wrote a personal share here, which seems to happen each winter.
It’s a bit of me remembering to practice what I preach & mostly an involuntary process.
An involuntary process that syncs up with the seasons.
Winter always asks me to slow down and digest what I can’t take with me into the new.
And like clockwork, when November arrived, I noticed that my entire system was full.
It felt like everything from 2020 (and before) had caught up to me in a whiplash-type fashion, and all I could do was stop and tend to my basic needs.
I was unable to take in new "content" or learnings. I began to take in less digital content and media. I took a full social media break. I rested a lot. I focused on conscious movement to support the digestion and decomposition of heavy energies. I initiated tough & brave conversations in relationships that led to feelings of resolution I had been craving. I focused on deep nourishment for my body, knowing that this process requires proper support.
I had sleepless nights and anxious mornings. I laughed and cried. I watched a lot of Gilmore Girls... and I shared with close sisters that I wasn't sure what was on the other side of it.
The human part of me was exhausted, but a deeper wisdom knew that this was a necessary part of the process and that I was almost there.
I leaned into my tools of support, moving my body and working with plant allies. I sought external support and holding.
That wise part knew I had to take time to integrate, to make way for the change and new growth that was eager to come through me.
Moving through this process taught me (again) many key lessons:
The tools and support I lean on are THE reasons why I could sense this happening in me and fully allow it.
The cycles of grief have a mysterious intelligence to them and it takes practice to hone our skills to listen.
Without proper holding, processing, & digestion of our experiences, they can get stuck in our bodies and stunt our growth forward.
Now on the other side, I feel more spacious.
I feel an increased ability to receive a new story for my life. I feel eager to be of service in a renewed way.
I am now seeing how this process desperately wants to play out in many people, but it can't be completed if we don't... pause.
If we don’t seek support or engage tools to carry us through.
If you’ve been feeling stuck or full of undigested experiences, I would love to invite you to:
If you have been seeking a space to process & integrate all the transformations in your life, this is for you.
I am co-hosting this space with a dear sister/friend/teacher. We have poured so much love into this offering.
Together we will lean into the tools of ceremony, plants as medicine, movement & nervous system regulation, and community witnessing.
These are the tools I rely on consistently to remind me that I am human and that I can be safe in my body.
We would love to have you.
Click the link to learn more.
Leave a comment to let me know how this lands in you. <3
I’ll be sharing more soon.
Lisa Marie xx
So much of what you wrote I resonate with completely. I feel like I’ve been in pause mode for what feels like years now. There is regeneration happening but it feels slow. And I think that’s ok. But it’s different for me as someone who always lived outwardly, vibrantly and at full steam. I’ve been wintering for a while now. I sense it is fertile ground, but can also feel isolating. Not sure if I can join the group but am thinking about it.