family life

How to align with the Wheel of the Year for Resolutions & Stages of Change

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This time of year elicits reflection and dreaming. Some folks say that is arbitrary, a reaction to our imposed calendar year end. However, the end of our calendar year also aligns with the seasonal shifts. In the Northern Hemisphere, the ending of the calendar year coincides with the start of Winter and the end of the celebratory post-harvest season. This is a time of quiet and reflection. As one Earth cycle comes to an end, there is a natural pause which allows us space feel and think.

New Years resolutions are notorious for bold beginnings and fizzled endings, often leaving one with a sense of failure. It is not the resolution which was inappropriate but our method of execution. Big changes require careful attention, not will power.

When we are successful in making changes in our lives we complete a full cycle of the spiral of change.

The stages of change are:

Pre-contemplation: Haven’t thought about it, do not know that change is needed or wanted

Contemplation: Recognize a change is needed or wanted

Preparation: Organizing body, heart, mind, environment, and spirit in support of change

Action: Taking tangible steps towards new behaviors, actions, or ways of being

Maintenance: Learning to sustain these new behaviors, actions, or ways of being

Relapse: Re-emergence of old behaviors, actions, or ways of being

All of these stages can happen at any time of year, and we can use the natural rhythms of life on Earth to support those changes we want to see in for ourselves and our world.

At New Year, or during Early Winter, we want to be gently observing the past year cycle and creating a vision of what we want to manifest in the year ahead. It is not the time for swooping changes or bold action- it is a time of observance. It is a time for accepting what is possible. ( Contemplation)

Late Winter and Early Spring are times for planning. We choose the seeds of change we want to plant and decided which need to be planted where, which will have barriers and what kind of supports our future garden will need. (Planning)

Late Spring and Early Summer are a time of action. Those seeds are starting to sprout and need constant attention and nourishment. ( Action)

In Late Summer and Autumn, we see the effects of our dedication and the manifestation of our dreams/plans. Now we will need to learn new skills in order to engage the benefits from all we have harvested. How will be preserve and persevere? Making changes is followed by learning to live sustainably with our new actions, behaviors, and way of being. ( Maintenance)

Relapse can happen anywhere along the way, and planning for relapse will help us minimize the impact on our forward direction. Change is a spiral, a cycle, just like the Wheel of the Year- when we embrace them they can help us create the world in which we want to live.

No Need to fear Fear.

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I am afraid. I’m afraid of covid-19. I’m afraid of the flu. I’m afraid of someone crossing that yellow line. I’m afraid of ice that cracks. I’m afraid of airplanes that crash. I’m afraid of mass shooters. I’m afraid of power tools and I’m afraid of fires. I’m afraid of water, sometimes. I’m afraid of hunger. I’m afraid of misunderstanding. I’m afraid of anything that might create separation ( especially life and death separation)between me and my children, husband, family, community and work. But, I don’t live in fear- I live in love. 

My life of love facilitates fears- they remind me of the miraculous sanctity of life. They foster respect and honor the place of dangers. I cannot love or respect something if I do not honor its Truth. This world is a place that provides one way in and an infinite number of ways out. I snuggle up to my fears, and get to know them well, because they are just tender reminders of what I cherish. 


(Persist as Love is one of my favorite of Paul’s mantras/talks and especially appropriate right now. You can find the recording from The Whole Health Center here )

Autumn, Crafted.

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Can you feel the shift? Autumn is coming and with it one of the biggest yearly transitional shifts for families. New school year, new activities, the shift of schedules,  stress from change. With all this comes a sense of questioning ourselves as mothers. Should we sign up for this? Will that be too much? Are they over-scheduled? Will we ever have dinner as a family again? How can I keep meals healthy? Yep. These questions run through our minds and distract us from the moment. They make us questions ourselves, and it doesn’t feel good. 

What if we answered these questions now? What if we crafted your autumn to meet your needs? What do you wish for this season? We can do that. 

 

Crafted Autumn Coaching Package: $255

5 (30 min) weekly sessions, email support, self-assessments and individualized resources.

The days are shortening, and space is limited. Please secure your registration.