A few posts back, I wrote about cycles and natural rhythms. In that post I candidly described how I came to understand how crucial it is to love all the aspects of myself. I’m not saying I’m perfect at this 100% of the time. But I do try. I even try to love the part of me that has trouble loving parts of me. Whooo. That makes my brain dizzy.
The article was inspired as we were entering fall, and I became aware of the shortening days. Now approaching the winter solstice – the shortest day of the year – I’m reflecting again on cycles.
And how backwards we have it at this time of year.
Busy. Busy. Busy.
Go. Go. Go.
Visit. Visit. Visit.
Rush. Rush. Rush.
Stop. Take a look outside your window. What is nature doing right now?
She’s buckling down. Settling in. Reserving energy. Resting in quiet.
She’s not frenzied. She’s not panicked. She’s not active.
She’s calm. Quiet. Dark.
And there is nothing wrong with that. In fact, I believe everything is right about that.
You can pretend all you want, but you’re not separate from nature. And she (nature) really has it figured out. Let her teach you.
Understand that nature wants you resting at this time of year. Do you have to go to 6 Christmas parties in one week? Will the world end if you don’t find that one last little stocking stuffer?
I’m about to make an article baby. An idea infant born of the article I referenced in the first paragraph and another article I wrote about tuning in, not out, to make decisions.
Why the concept combination?
Because… there are certain times of the various natural cycles that are perfect for inner listening and for gut-based decision making.
Boom!
There are at least 5 specific times that your intuition is the most powerful, and your inner voice is the strongest.
These times are the “low” or “dark” points of any cycle:
1. Night time of the daily or diurnal cycle
2. The new moon of the monthly cycle
3. The first day of a woman’s menstrual cycle (the day she starts bleeding). Bonus points if #2 and #3 are the same day.
4. Winter of the yearly cycle – especially around the winter solstice
5. Menopause of a woman’s life cycle.
Why do they occur at the darker, quieter times in the cycle? Because it is not about looking out and seeing bright, sparkly, over-stimulating lights. It is about tuning in. It’s like the darkness is providing a distraction-free environment with in which to listen to your heart’s desire.
But instead we go to malls. We go to parties. We take on more. We over-give.
And I get it. It feels good to give. To find the perfect something for that perfect someone.
It is about receiving wisdom, clarity, self love – from the inside. Not the outside.
So why not take advantage of what Mother Nature has laid out for us? Why not take down time at those dark parts of natural rhythms to chat with your inner you. Check in. Hey beautiful self, what’s working in life? What’s not? What do you want to change?
(Spring is a super time for change, growth and expansion. You can bet you’ll be hearing more about this from me in a couple months time.)
But for now settle in. Be okay with quiet, with stillness. What does your inner you want for Christmas? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
To you healthy, thriving, delightful life,
My cousin (Sharon Russell-Ricciardi) sent me your email on having the seasons backwards. I was very impressed with it and yet confused. It is the very first time I’ve heard this theory! I’ve suffered severe depression and have been going to therapy and never heard your strategy before. Actually, the opposite. Now I am totally confused. What do I do now? I have many other medical issues to deal with as well as the depression.