If there’s one thing I’ve learned time and time again in the (almost!!) 36 years on this planet, it’s this:
The Only Constant In Life, Is Change.
Well, That And:
Live For This Moment Because We Aren’t Promised A Tomorrow…
Do What You Love & What Fills Your Spirit No Matter What…
The Only Thing Getting In Your Way Is Yourself…
There’s Only ONE YOU And No One Else Can Offer The World The Unique Gifts You Have…
Trust In The Process…
The Universe Is Always Unfolding in Exactly the Way That It Should…
Just “Do You” and Screw What Everyone Else Thinks … Because….
Not Everyone Is Going To Like You…
You Can’t Please Everyone (Stop Trying!)…
And It’s Honestly Not Your Business What Other People Think Of You Anyway… Truly.
So you may be wondering why I’m going off on this “woo-woo” rant. Well, firstly if you didn’t know already I’m already 1000% woo-woo and love every bit of my woo-woo world- AND I’ve been noticing a lot of “stuff” within my life this year thus far.
I’ve been experiencing lots of shifts, changes, transformations, and cleanses on many levels.
Some have been pleasant, and others horribly uncomfortable.
But I believe that things always happen for a very good reason, even when it seems like it’s the worst possible thing that could ever happen to you.
We may not understand it right away… but some day we will. I know this from experience.
Between my own personal health challenges, business shifts, living & work place snafus and loss in the family, I’ve really felt raked over the coals, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. And we’re just barely approaching May!
My dearest sister, a life coach in NYC keeps gently reminding me that the darker the struggles, the more brilliant the transformation. I like the sound of that.
But something dawned on me recently that I wanted to share with you. My latest struggle has been trying to get to Komisarek Garden’s in Bedford, NH twice a week, like I’ve been doing for the last 7 years… but I’ve been feeling a push back. My schedule is so tightly packed… I haven’t been able to get there as much as I’d like this spring.
Although getting to Komisarek Garden’s is about work- planting, harvesting, medicine making, it’s also about reconnecting to myself, to my spirit. And you know what? Even when I finally get to Bedford, I’ve not been doing that. I’ve been stressed in the greenhouse re-seeding flats of vegetables and herbs that have been continually dug up and destroyed by adorable but incredibly annoying little chipmunks… over and over and over and OVER again.(Mind you my parents and I built every fence/net covering/hoop house contraptions we could to keep those little critters out! But alas, they still did.)
Bah.
I’ve barely said “Hello”, to all of my green friends already in the garden or sat down to talk with them. I’m always too exhausted and irritated to do anything but grumble my way back into the house and pout after reseeding for the xth time.
So after nearly 6 weeks of visits to Bedford with the same chipmunk infested outcome, I began think to myself- what the F@#$% ?!
I began to ask myself those important questions. The questions you ask yourself when your’re clearly banging down a closed & locked door and nothing is budging.
“What is going on here? Am I not supposed to garden anymore? Is it time to focus on other parts of my business? Should I look into more local areas of land I could use to garden? Am I receiving a sign to just stop all together?”
I received an immediate response from my gut, my heart, my spirit;
“Hell no! This work is what feeds your soul! To be in the dirt, to commune with Mother Earth, the plants, the insects, the animals, the earthworms, the trees! And this place is a sacred land where you grew up, with it’s wonderful loving energy & the connection to your parents who help you foster and build this work! This is why you do what you do! Because there is nothing else that brings you greater peace, calm, clarity, inspiration and well being- nothing!”.
So then, I was like cool- now that I’ve clarified that- what’s the deal?
Another “Ah-ha” moment hit me: Finding that peace, calm & well being wasn’t happening in Bedford as of late- but why?
Since late February when the greenhouse was up and running and it was time to get seeding- I’ve been all business. No play, no time to listen to spirit, no time to slow down, no time to enjoy, no time to breathe, no time to” be”, no time for gratitude of the work I love so much.
I realized I’d lost that soul purpose of connection and communion with the Earth, with the green world. I’d let the “reality” of just “getting shit done” of life get in the way of the reason I was doing this work at all. This work that feeds my spirit, fills my cup so that I can help others, teach others, lift others up in the wonders of plant medicine, self care and empowerment for a happy and healthy life.
I’d cut myself off from that. And the chipmunks were reminding me. Strangely I’d yet to look up what message the chipmunks themselves had for me until just now and of course it all makes complete sense:
Chipmunk is a wonderful totem because it gives you permission to play and to balance work with periods of just having fun. Are you thoughts constructive or destructive? Are your fears keeping you from playing and enjoying life? Are you in charge of your life or have you given you authority over to another?
Oh Chipmunk, how wise you are. Thank you.
So, dear friends, have your been making time to feed your soul? Have you gotten “muddied up” in the “Go, go, go, do, do, do, accomplish, accomplish, accomplish” of life and perhaps lost that grasp on making time for play, time to fill up your cup, time to reconnect your heart and your spirit to what truly matters to you? Have you been cutting yourself off from the “good stuff”?
Let’s not forget that very important ingredient in self care, health and happiness; rejuvenation of the spirit.
Ayurveda believes (and I agree), that disease begins in the spirit, trickles out into the mind and emotions and then eventually (if not managed/healed) manifests in the physical body.
There is no disconnect between mind, body, spirit & soul. We need to be feeding and fueling, loving & nourishing all of ourselves. Don’t let the mundane parts of life get in your way.
If you’re cutting the good stuff out of life or simply forgetting to make time for it, stop immediately and make a change. If you don’t you’ll manifest chipmunks of your own and then some, like I did. And I certainly don’t want that for you. 🙂
Be well, go play, enjoy life! It’s the only one we get this time around! xoxo A
Listening To Signs & Surrendering
