Anything you do from the soulful self will help lighten the burdens of the world. Anything. You have no idea what the smallest word, the tiniest generosity can cause to be set in motion. Be outrageous in forgiving. Be dramatic in reconciling. Mistakes? Back up and make them as right as you can, then move on. Be off the charts in kindness. In whatever you are called to, strive to be devoted to it in all aspects large and small. Fall short? Try again. Mastery is made in increments, not in leaps. Be brave, be fierce, be visionary. Mend the parts of the world that are “within your reach.” To strive to live this way is the most dramatic gift you can ever give to the world.
Consider yourselves assigned.
– Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Ph.D.
A note from Erin August 16 2023
Greetings, heartful friends,
A few weeks ago, for about 10 minutes, I fell under the spell. Maybe you know the one I’m talking about.
I opened an email from a local spa and was really convinced that I ought to try to make more money so I could afford to invest in a series of expensive facial treatments to, you know, remove any visible signs of aging and retrain my facial muscles to be in the “right place.”
Then I blinked awake and emerged from that strange trance and laughed at myself as I remembered what actually matters to me. What matters to me is not spending a whole lot of time, energy, focus, and money, in a world in crisis, on leaving for future generations the gift of my decades-old face being wrinkle free. “You’re welcome, kids. I did what I could.” haha.
I’m sometimes amazed at how easy it is to fall under the spell of this disembodied anti-aging consumerist nonsense. To ripen as an authentic adult or even elder in this culture, deeply rooted in what matters, is both challenging and necessary.
I have a potent course starting soon – this one is for women and female-identified folks – where we’ll deepen embodied practices that DO matter to me. Practices of uncovering our innate sanity, presence, courageous kindness, wisdom, and more. It’s for those who think there’s more to life than striving to be a teeny tiny woman without wrinkles. I invite you to read the following invitation from my heart and see if it resonates. If so, you can read more about this course and fill out an application here. I warmly invite you to join me for 9 months of deep practice, nourishing community, and remembering the unforgotten wisdom within.
I invite you to join me
to grow courageous intimacy with your life
to practice listening deeply
to rewild your curiosity
to live your life as an act of love
to remember your sovereignty
to root yourself in the depths
to make your optimism contagious
to dedicate yourself to the welfare of life, now and in the future
to plant and nurture beautiful seeds
to make room for the full range of your capacity to feel grief and praise and everything in between
to bow deeply to what is
and to rise to your full uprightness, without apology
to be still, silent, and spacious
to move your body with clarity, flexibility, integrity, and pleasure
to tune to the living intelligence humming in everything,
including every cell in your body
to grow your grounded, clear-eyed warmth and compassion
to live intentionally with the wish to benefit others and all of life
to embody living ancient wisdom
to play and to laugh
to powerfully deepen your inner and outer trust
to grow your willingness to abide in not-knowing
to inhabit your bones
to relish the soft animal of your body
to revel in paradox
to empower your hara and heart as powerful foundations for a clear head
to free the genius hiding behind your wounds
to free yourself, free others, and serve everyday
to dwell in possibility
to welcome the beautiful mess of life
to become empelvised, embellied, empowered
to use whatever arises in our lives in support of these intentions
and to be a fully embodied woman of wisdom.
I hope you’ll consider joining me.
With love,
With love,
Erin
Don't miss a single post. Sign up here to get them delivered straight to your inbox.
Posted in Embodiment
