Friday, Nov 15 2024

From the conversations I've had over the past few days, I know that many folks are tired and overwhelmed, and that it's been hard to find a sense of possibility.

Tonight is a full moon ~ a supermoon. A big, bright light in a big, dark sky. When I see the full moon, it reminds me that wholeness is real ~ and that life moves in cycles. However it is right now, it's not permanent.

I can really use that reminder! It's a time when, maybe like you, it often seems like I'm feeling my way along in the dark. I'm not sure how to respond to a reality that can feel disheartening and disorienting.

My wish for you is that when you look up tonight and see that whole, full moon, you remember that there is a wholeness within you, about you, your life, this moment ~ even if you can't fully see it right now. And that things won't always feel this way.

There's a meditation I share in my 8-week program that's a reminder that each of us is part of a whole ~ of something greater. It includes a quote from astronomer Carl Sagan that I find comforting when I lose sight of the bigger picture. He wrote, "The nitrogen in our DNA, the calcium in our teeth, the iron in our blood, the carbon in our apple pies were made in the interiors of collapsing stars. We are made of starstuff." 

No matter what other stories we might have about ourselves and other people, we are made of starstuff. And so is everything around us ~ everything we can see, everything and everyone we have ever known, and whatever has ever existed on earth: starstuff, all of it. This is science ~ not just wishful thinking  

The meditation I mentioned was also inspired by a poem that I find grounding and comforting in a way that's related to the starstuff perspective. I want to share it with you today, with the hope that it feels supportive to you, too:  

Remember
by Joy Harjo

Remember the sky that you were born under,
know each of the star’s stories.
Remember the moon, know who she is.
Remember the sun’s birth at dawn, that is the
strongest point of time. Remember sundown
and the giving away to night.
Remember your birth, how your mother struggled
to give you form and breath. You are evidence of
her life, and her mother’s, and hers.
Remember your father. He is your life, also.
Remember the earth whose skin you are:
red earth, black earth, yellow earth, white earth
brown earth, we are earth.
Remember the plants, trees, animal life who all have their
tribes, their families, their histories, too. Talk to them,
listen to them. They are alive poems.
Remember the wind. Remember her voice. She knows the
origin of this universe.
Remember you are all people and all people
are you.
Remember you are this universe and this
universe is you.
Remember all is in motion, is growing, is you.
Remember language comes from this.
Remember the dance language is, that life is.

Remember.

When we're navigating periods of great fear and uncertainty, it's easy to get pulled into anxiety and fretting, reacting to every new development and catastrophizing into the future. I find that while I need to stay informed and not be in denial about possible outcomes, it's also important to connect with a bigger picture. To remember that the challenging and alarming experiences are happening in a larger context, too.

To practice with this a bit more, put a hand (or two) on your heart for a few moments and feel the warmth and gentle touch. See if you can let that gentleness and comfort register. Then, take three breaths:

With each inhale, say to yourself: I am whole, too
With each exhale, say to yourself: I am starstuff, too
When you've finished, notice how you feel.

You can also connect more deeply with a broader, starstuff-related perspective through my Impermanence, Uncertainty, and Self-Compassion meditation. You can find it here.

I hope today's note feels comforting as we continue to live into the darker days of autumn 

As I mentioned last week, I've got some new, supportive offerings on the horizon ~ new ways for you to access my creative self-compassion work, as well as some possibilities if you're looking for a creative, unique and meaningful gift for a loved one. I'll be sharing more about those soon 

Sending you my best wishes for a peaceful Friday and weekend