by Astara
In a world that is filled to the brim with outward signs and symptoms of dissonance, it is fairly easy to see that we are currently participating with life in a fast-paced distracted way. Amidst such inward discomfort and self-rejection expressed outwardly, we are not othering very well. And we haven’t for a very long time. Emphasis: a very long time. With this “holding others separate” context as our global backdrop that many call reality, it is easy to think that participation is not such a good idea, and that you are better off doing [insert whatever you are doing here] on your own — and fast.
I am a firm believer in the power of solitude, and much of my soul coaching supports clients in finding their autonomy and voice. The year 2020 gave many of us ample time to be alone. Unfortunately, many found loneliness inside quarantine. Feelings of isolation which affect our physical and mental health and have led to an epidemic of anxiety and depression.
Aloneness is All-oneness
The most important thing to discover is that even amidst enforced solitude, we are never alone. The word alone can be broken down to all one. Aloneness then becomes all-oneness if we are willing to see it. We are a part of a web of life just waiting for us to wake up and feel, notice, and sense that the fabric of this web is what we are made of.
Busy Busy Busy = Non-Participation
Because of our busy-ness and belief in separation, many of us live in a non-participatory way. We have a cultural push to over-achieve and do. We engage in a hundred zoom calls. We have more social media connections than ever before. Feelings of loneliness, self-deprecation, and post-traumatic disassociation sum up how we have been participating with each other and life for a while now.
We are hardwired to participate.
We are hardwired to belong. We are hardwired to inter-be. We are hardwired to move slow. That is because the universe is designed collaboratively and in full participation. The unitive future we hunger for will emerge from relational skills, collaboration, cooperation, and inclusivity.
To build those skills at a collective level means applying all of those relational skills at an individual level. Collaborating, cooperating, and including all of one’s self starts from within us. Radical inclusivity is what I am talking about, which transforms the quality of how we participate with self. Suddenly, everything belongs.
Participating with the fullness of you can be uncomfortable, because that means communing with aspects of yourself you do not like that much. It might look like leaning into an awkward moment you created. Or noticing something in your body that brings up fear. Or paying attention to something niggling at you from your core, that you have been ignoring in the hopes it would go away.
Slow Down
The first audacious-moon-landing-inspired-step to expand your life is to sloooooooow down.
Slowing down changes the gravity of your life. It is the only way to full participation living.
Sitting in meditation is highly encouraged, and yet incredible power comes when you take the meditation off the mat, cushion, or chair and live from that state. When you radically slow down to notice your own being (energy) and participate with it, everything shifts. It is then we can begin to participate with others.
While writing this blog last week, a blog that usually takes a few hours, started to take a few days. I pulled a zen tarot card for reflection and what do you know, I pulled the Knight of Rainbows, titled Slowing Down. As if I didn’t already get it, my expanded self held up a mirror reminder. I decided to honor the slowness.
The image of this card (left) is a turtle navigating between two elements, between the material earth and emotional waters. The turtle reminds us that we carry our home with us wherever we go. Our home is our heart, our beingness, our pure existence.
The turtle’s slow pace whispers there is no need to hurry. Even as we glide slowly into the depths of our watery emotions, we can lean into them slowly, tenderly, without rush or avoidance, without attachment or clinging. All that is asked of you and me right now, is to rest in the fullness of who you are. You are your home when all of you belongs. Such an internalized sense of inclusion helps you connect from within to the belonging you seek. When you live that radical self-acceptance, it is that much easier to accept others in their differences too.
All that is asked of me right now, and is asked of you, is to rest in the fullness of who you are.
Last year we were strong-armed — via the not-so-fun gifts of a global virus — to slow down. Many of us have had a bounty of emotional waters to wade into because of so much awkward change in our livelihoods and our ways of connecting. This year, we can still feel the ripples. Let the turtle be your medicine.
There may be inner resistance to slowing down. That is normal. We are indoctrinated against slowness. We swim in a cultural soup of busy-ness and one big great hurry. Just remember, that even if it seems crazy (it will), slowing down will refresh you and bring you back to your to-do list with more creativity, energy and insight.
This winter in Omaha, we have had quite the snowfall this last month, which has afforded us many opportunities to slow down. We like to call it moving in snow-mo. On this full moon day as we watch the snow melt, I need to move in slow-mo even without the excuse of snow.
Wherever you find yourself in the world as you read these words, consider this your invitation to slow down. Live the slowness of meditation into your life. Eat slowly and carefully. Walk slow and notice each footfall. Pay attention to the wisdom of trees. Talk slowly (and less) and listen deeper to yourself and others.
Sometimes slowing down looks like dance and play. Sometimes it looks like tears and feeling big feelings. Sometimes it looks like absolutely nothing. Slowing down takes practice. Make room for all of you, the mess and the smooth, the uncomfortable and the comfortable, the numb and the joy. Rest in the fullness of you. Let your body, heart, and nature show you how to do it. They know the way.
Ready, set, slow.
Let our diverse soulful offerings be your permission slips. Explore the world of my Heaartifact Archaeology eco-system and choose what feels enticing. Or explore our private sound healing and our Inner Space Academy. We help you change the gravity of your being from the inside out.
