Happy Father's Day, my friends. It also happens to be....duh duhhhhhhhhhnnn...THE FIRST DAY OF SUMMER!!! So, happy Summer Solstice 2021, the longest day of the year. It's a lot for me to hold in mind, and I want to touch on all that I am intuiting this day....I can do it!!! Let's break it down.
I love my dad and am thrilled that I get to celebrate him a couple of times a year, on his birthday and Father's Day. He is one of the most upstanding and generous men I know, and I hope that he knows how much he is loved and valued. Let's hear it for the dads. The longest day of the year, people!! That's 14 hours and 6 minutes of daylight for us here on the (b)east coast, the most light from our star in one day that we will see all year! This makes me happy. Maybe because I am a Leo, or maybe because I used to be low-key afraid of the dark, I just love the sunshine. So, more sunshine, more better. And finally, the first day of the official summer season. Let's face it, there is just something super sweet about long hot summer days and sultry summer nights. Even though my kids are grown, it still feels exciting to think that school's out, people are taking time off for vacation, and life just feels more relaxed and spacious. We have about 3 months to soak it all in, so let's get busy.....taking it easy. You have a couple of times to practice yoga with me via Zoom this week, and one chance to practice LIVE AND IN PERSON. Click the link for all the details. xo Nicole
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It's been raining this week. A lot. If I have heard one person say "Well, we really need the rain," I have heard thirty. And I get it. It was blissfully dry and sunny for a couple of weeks in May. So now, as she does, Nature inevitably brings the rain, the water table will rise, and we will leave drought conditions behind. And I am thankful that she is on that, because if I had my way, the sun would shine exactly 365 days per year and the graceful balance of life would be totally out of whack. And we need it to be IN whack....right? Right.
Please join me for yoga asana this week, while we wait for these June showers to bring all that has been parched and thirsty back into lush and vibrant balance. xo Nicole Welcome to the first full week of June! And with it we have a full Ring of Fire solar eclipse on Thursday the 10th. BOOM. We in the more southern part of North America will not be able to see the magic, but perhaps we will be able to feel it. As I did with the lunar eclipse a couple of weeks ago, I offer a link to a description of the purported esoteric and astrological aspects of solar eclipses. Even if you do not buy in to these esoteric perspectives, we can all agree that there is a thing we call a solar eclipse happening. As with the gravitational influence of the moon on our bodies, we can assume that the interruption of light, as it makes its way to us from Solaris, could have some impact we may be able to feel.
I like these cosmic events because it gives me the sense that we are all in this together. Back in August 2017, when we in the South were able to see the full totality of a solar eclipse, my bestie and I took my kids out to Franklin NC to get in on the action. We pulled into a scenic overlook that was packed with people from all parts of North Carolina and beyond. People spread out blankets and lawn chairs and picnic lunches. We walked around to stretch our legs and made casual conversation with people we would not normally meet and would likely never see again. Then, as the sky began to dim and an eerie pink light spread, sound took on a muffled strangeness, and we all began to quiet and look up at the sky. We watched as the moon slowly moved directly in front of the sun and into totality with awe and wonder. It felt like a sacred moment that was at once mysterious and shared. It was a peak moment of my life, whether or not the astrological predictions made at the time ever came to pass. I invite you, the micro, to take time this week to tune in to the great cosmic dance. The meta. The macro. It is in the moments when I feel my own insignificance in the vastness of the space, that Mercy, ever making its way toward the meekest of souls, activates Grace within my heart, and I find myself beloved. I hope you can get in on that action. xo Nicole Hello from Memorial Day weekend. I offer up thanks and honor to our fallen military brothers and sisters. As Jesus said, "There is no greater love than this, that a man lay down his life for the sake of his friends." I am taking time to reflect on this level of sacrifice, and rededicate myself daily to act as a servant of the Highest Love in this life. While I regularly fall short of selfless behavior, I do intend that my life be of benefit to my fellow travelers, and the world in general, in some way. I hope that in the midst of enjoying some time off, perhaps spent with family and/or dear friends, we can/will all take some time to think about the deeper meaning of this day.
That all being said, I am teaching this week! Follow the links for times, and to join. xo Nicole |