by Serena Argens, Rise & Shine Bright Founder & Coach
While I had hoped the past month would be a period of new beginnings, which in many ways it was, it also just felt very heavy...and darker...than I’d hoped.
From connecting with others, it seems I’m not alone.
There seems to be a heaviness lately with many experiencing overwhelm and different forms of loss. Certainly there is a lot going on that is adding to the overwhelm; war, election stress, school shootings, mass layoffs, economic uncertainty, holiday-related anxiety...not to mention all the other stuff that may be going on for us each individually. I heard a powerful message recently that helped me come to terms with the weight I was feeling in this season.
We are in a period of dormancy and moving deeper into a phase of darkness between the autumn equinox (Sept 22) and winter solstice (Dec 21). If you’re like me, you may feel inclined to be inside more, both physically and mentally. An urge to nest and be cozy physically, but mentally, thoughts and emotions may be pulled inward more and your energy may feel lower...dragged down almost. I have learned that this is normal. As we enter the darkest part of the year over the next month and as we culminate Scorpio season, sometimes referred to as serpent season in Astrology, we are being pulled into the belly of darkness. Scorpio season is often an emotional and turbulent period, but one that often leads to positive change. It is a period where we are faced with more shadows, death, loss, and decomposition. Without awareness to this, for me, it’s felt uncomfortable and overwhelming at times…especially as I was trying to focus on new beginnings.
How do you focus on the future when there is a pull to the past?
This season gives us a powerful opportunity to confront our shadows and surrender to what this darkness can bring us.
It’s a time to honor what was by confronting our grief. It is a powerful time to lean into pain, discomfort, frustration - to feel all the feels - and tap into what is happening below the surface. This is not a time to push our feelings aside but to surrender to them, to understand what they are telling us about what we need. When we suppress emotions, we hold onto this in our bodies and it can end up having negative long-term effects to our physical and emotional health.
We can’t grow and evolve as individuals - we can’t focus on our new beginnings - without taking the time to face these shadows.
This season is ripe for prioritizing reflection. It’s also such an important time to focus on self-care. Darkness can lead to tremendous rebirth...but only with the right nourishment.
Here are some recommended rituals to help nourish your body and spirit during this season of surrender:
Clear out clutter: while this could absolutely be physical clutter in your surroundings, it is also a nudge to take an assessment of your life; clear out personal, environmental, and business clutter. Discern your commitments and ensure they are aligned with your inner values and beliefs. Clear away what isn’t important so you can free up more time to focus on what is most cherished to you. We often get caught up in being busy that we lose sight of what is most important to us, use this powerful season to shed what is no longer serving you.
Exfoliate: This period of shedding can also happen physically, just like a serpent sheds its skin, we too can shed our dry skin in order to feel renewed. You could even try dry brushing, an Ayurvedic ritual, that’s been around for centuries and is believed to have many health benefits such as exfoliation, ridding the body of toxins, and increasing energy and circulation. Here is a link to more information on Dry Brushing.
Breathwork: There is nothing more essential to our health and wellbeing than breathing. Yet studies have discovered that 90% of us – very likely me, you, and almost everyone you know – is breathing incorrectly and this is leading to a laundry list of ailments and diseases. Pranayama breathing, a crucial part of yoga and meditation, specifically focuses on exercises in breath control. Whether you incorporate breathwork into your yoga practice, meditation practice, or do it separately on its own, it is a powerful ritual to work into your daily life. Here is a short video that introduces Pranayama Breathing. Make sure you catch the alternate nostril breathing that is covered ~9m in, this can be a powerful way to bring you into balance by clearing the energy channels on both right and left sides of the body and brain.
In addition to these self-care rituals, we have services and events to help support you during this Season of Surrender:
Coaching: can help unpack inner blocks that may be holding you back, in order to shed them, and help move you forward on something important in your life. Coaching can be a powerful method for gaining more clarity during dark periods and building momentum to propel you. As a professional coach, I work with many to get unstuck. I offer a complimentary introductory session for new clients and then packages start at $300. Reach out to book a session today!
Group Channeling Event with Matisse: we are hosting 2 events in November with certified Intuitive Consultant and Psychic Medium, Matisse Frazier, who will bring together an intimate group to each receive a channeled message and insight specific to them to help guide them during this period. For those who have been feeling a bit stuck, this will be an experience of powerful movement on many levels due to the energetic support that Matisse provides. It costs $39 for the hour. Learn more here!
We’d love to hear from you what new rituals you try out during this Season of Surrender.
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