How do you feel about the change of seasons?
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the autumn time of year is associated with the Metal element, which is said to rule the lungs and the emotions of grief and joy.
The big, heaving cry – the earth-shattering kind that literally shakes your chest – moving mountains of grief and pain, is often what is needed to unlock the holding in your body and to allow you to take in the beauty of life again.
As we move towards the holiday season and in the Northern Hemisphere the leaves are turning and the nights lengthening, it is in perfect alignment with nature to feel more inward, reflective, and to notice grief that may have been latent over the summer resurfacing.
If you are feeling things more deeply at this time, you are not alone.
It’s key to be gentle with yourself at this time.
Take deep breaths. Let the tears come, but also notice the beauty.
Tea & hugs as much as possible, even if it means wrapping your own two arms around yourself.
Grief requires dedicated, intentional practice – so we can step into the wildness of our grief, and then step out again to do life.
They don’t teach these skills in school. Imagine what life would look like if they would!
One of my students shared this beautiful analogy recently in one of our group meetings:
They said, “I like to think of it like if you were to put a stone in a very small jar, so that the stone barely fits in. Then gradually, over time and practice of this work the jar gets bigger and bigger. The stone doesn’t go away or get smaller, but the jar gets bigger.”
And so it is – our pain doesn’t necessarily get smaller or go away, but, with practice & the right support, our CAPACITY expands.
If you’re looking for more support at this time, check out the diverse offerings we have on the calendar for the winter months under the “Courses & Programs” tab on our menu.
With love,
Josea & the Dark Woods Team
PS – we have a new podcast episode up with Jane & Madison talking about the value of asking for healing support from our Beloved Dead – the Well Ancestors. Check out Supporting Your Healing with the Well Ancestors with Jane Spielman, PhD & Madison Steadwell HERE
