If I remember this photo shoot I had just lost my mother. And, I was feeling the love that still flowed through me to her. It was sweet and sad and so full. It was the first time in my life that I was in this world without a parent as a safety net. And, I was still learning how to live without her here. I’ve since learned how to stay connected to her where she is now.

My very favorite self-care practice is my evening walk when I talk to the spirits, angels, my guides and ancestors as I look up into the sky. I slow down and feel my feet touch the ground. Once the sun goes down I can contemplate the day and share my problems and my joys with those who have gone before me. It really helps ground me and end the day on a beautiful and calm note of gratitude.

This photoshoot was an adventure for me. Having beloved goddesses paint my face, wearing jewelry that didn’t belong to me. It all gave me permission to be something or someone else for a day. Kathy and the LEM community create this nourishing soil for you to grow, and you don’t even realize you’re growing. It all feels like play, but it’s always so much deeper. I felt changed after this photoshoot. I remember one of the more ‘warrior-like’ poses, and that is something I don’t often express especially in photos. It really gave me an opportunity to celebrate all aspects of myself.

My most treasured self-care practice:

I love writing letters to the Universe. Every day I write a letter asking the Universe, how can I serve the world in the best way? What are specific things that my personal body is craving? What would need to happen for me to feel really vibrant and incredible about that day? I feel that writing in the morning, tuning into my guides and my galactic team, gives me Universal Support, Universal Protection, Universal Speed for me to get to go full speed ahead for the day. I also tune in again whenever I feel that I’m off my flow. I love that I have tools to get to check in often. It’s never anything ‘planned’ for me. It’s always just, pulling a few angel cards here and there, writing, asking, listening and then taking imperfect inspired action once I receive guidance and feel filled up.

I introduced myself at a 5 day wilderness first aid training session, I recall feeling a bit surrendered upon arrival as the weekend prior I had spent in the hospital after an urgent unfolding with a close family member. The instructor had prefaced the intro’s by stating that “I’ve never had a boring student…” It seemed an accurate claim as the intro’s went on and each student had impressive stories of travel and outdoor adventure and accolades to follow. Round robin came to me. I started with my name. I followed with “I perhaps might be your first boring student, I mean, I don’t like – uh – go outside.” Folks laughed. The room relaxed. We became equal. The egos were stowed and asked to stand down. It flashed me back to a childhood memory, I recalled being this silly kid who disarmed people and created instant equality just by speaking the unspoken. The moment coupled with the recall made me feel connected – once again – to me, my purest and unfiltered version. 

Mindfulness is the breath out to my every breath in. The breath in is the doing, the breath out is the reflection. My work has afforded me great and copious opportunity re this practice. I prescribe (do) and then I/we observe (reflection). Reflections afford greater understanding which in turn leads to different “do’s” next round. These new “do’s” are more evolved. And so on and so forth. This too applies to my personal life experience. Mindfulness IS my journey. 

I am participating consciously in my life by speaking my truth, as often as I can. I am saying no to the things that do not align with my truth and finally saying yes to the things that do. The catalyst was in fact a connection made. The connection I made woke me up. I was in a slumber. Now I am awake. I’ve rubbed the crust out of my eyes and now it’s game on. 

I always feel nervous when I know all eyes will be on me, as a teacher, a leader, a speaker – but I’m also excited. In fact, I’m trying to rebrand nervousness for myself. I think it is actually less about nerves or fear and more of an experience of excitement, of extra energy – my energy expanding to meet the hearts of the people in the room. But in that, there are those moments before – when it’s just me in my body, with all that extra juice – and I feel tingly, and happy, and curious, and sweaty, and a little scared that I might not do my best, and very excited that I may do more than I could have imagined.

My most treasured self-care practice:

Meditation. Breath. Movement. Music. All wrapped together as a daily practice. One made more delicious with the sun shining on my face (but not a requirement!) Starting the day by being in my body, creating a beautiful vision with my mind, opening my heart, engaging my senses, asking for higher guidance – this sets the day off on the right path. I end my practice asking spirit – “what message can I carry into the world? what will you have me do?” – I trust the image or word or sensation that comes to me. I practice following this guidance. I treasure this time with myself and I know that it creates a container for the rest of my day to unfold into – one that is made more sacred by my practice.

My most treasured self care practice:

For me, it’s a daily practice of tuning in to myself and what I need. What do I need today to calm my nervous system? What do I need today to move some energy that feels constricted? What do I need today to feel supported? What do I need today to move towards fuller expression?