The Magic of February: Tapping Into the Quickening

Happy February!
I hope this finds you well as we move into the shortest month of the year.
While it may be the smallest month, it brings with it new energies and one of my favorite things of the year, the quickening. If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, you may notice that little signs of the quickening begin showing up around you here and there. The quickening is that quiet burst of energy that begins to push through the soil, plants, and even us.

You may notice that you start to have an increased energy, enthusiasm, a burst of creativity, or desire to move forward on some new projects or goals that have been on your mind or on your list. Just like the crocus, hyacinth, and orchards start to make their presence known; you may find that you have a renewed sense of zeal for the new things blooming in your life.

While we’re still in the midst of winter, there’s a feeling that things are slowly but surely picking up speed as we gently move toward a new season. You may feel this push pull within you this month too; one day you may feel guided to go slow and the next day you may feel a pull toward taking action. This ebb and flow is one of the things that I love about this month because we’re in that in between space that allows us to tune into our natural rhythms while we prepare for the new season.

If you’ve been experiencing a slow start to some of your new year things, that’s okay. In fact, this is a powerful time to review some of the things on your list and reassess how they feel for you and it’s a great time to add, subtract, or adjust accordingly. Remember, you get to decide if something is a priority or if it’s being set to the side for whatever reason.

This is also a good time to invest a little time in self care, especially if you’re wanting to increase or reintegrate self care into your routine. There are 28 days in February this year which means that if you choose to focus on doing something for yourself each day this month, it will be a healthy habit that you can more easily honor all year long. Research shows that it takes 21 days to create a new healthy habit, so by the end of the month, it will feel natural for you to continue your practice.

Sometimes when people hear the term self care it can create a little sense of pressure or feel like it’s one more thing to add to your daily list of tasks. However, it doesn’t have to be something that takes a lot of time in your day and there’s no one way or right way to cultivate a self care practice. Your way may look like someone else’s or it may be something that is uniquely yours. The only thing that really matters is that it’s an action that is supportive for you.

Here's a few simple and quick practices that can help you get an idea of some things that resonate for you.

  • Morning Mantra or Focus for the Day

  • 5 Minute Morning Meditation

  • Filling your Diffuser

  • Listening to or Playing Music

  • Journaling

  • Coloring

  • Reading for Pleasure

  • Going for a Walk

  • Drinking Water (maybe with lemon, or mint)

  • Saying yes to an activity that feels uplifting or supportive to you

  • Saying no to things, people, or activities which feel heavy or draining to you

  • Affirmations

  • Going to Sleep Early

  • Asking for Help if You Need Help

  • Baking Some Cookies

  • Making Your Favorite Meal

  • Learning Something New

  • Planting Some Flowers or Herbs

  • Clearing Out a Closet, Pantry, or Dresser

  • Starting a New Project or Working on an Existing Project

  • ______________________________

These are just a few ideas to help you get started on cultivating self care in your own daily life this month. You can choose something that takes only a few minutes or something that takes a bit more time. Sometimes, I think we forget that drinking water, remembering to breathe, and taking down time are very important parts of taking good care of ourselves; and they definitely count as self care. Just like adding money into a piggy bank, it adds up quickly and you are 100% worth the investment.

As you begin your new month, I invite you to tune into your own rhythms each day and connect with this energy of the ebb and flow that’s happening right now. It’s such a magical time of the year and it goes by quickly which adds to the whimsical quality of February. I hope your month is filled with forward motion while also being balanced with things, people, and activities which feel soothing, supportive, and honor your self care.

I’d love to hear how you’re moving through the quickening and the ways that you’re taking good care of yourself this month. I’m planning on doing a little bit of garden preparations, baking, and some winter canning too.

I’m sending you so much love and support from my teeny corner of the world right to you.
With Love and Gratitude,
Kristy~xoxo

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The Season of Light

Happy December~

I hope this finds you well as we welcome the season of light together.
This time of year brings with it lots of extra light; some in the form of teeny lights, fairy lights, lights on homes, in trees, and even in windows. Maybe you’ve already added extra light to your home too. There’s something special and almost magical that happens when you add light to extra spaces in your home. Those little extra lights help to stir something within in us on a soul level. Maybe you’ve noticed this happening for you too; the feeling of deep calm, comfort, quiet, and sometimes a welling up of love and fond memories. Maybe you’ve noticed how these extra lights have a soothing effect on the people in your home and if you have little fur babies, how they’re impacted by the extra light as well.  

Often the light in combination with longer nights and darker days (for those of us living in the northern hemisphere) can create windows of opportunity for deep reflection, slowing down, and a focus on simplicity, and peace. There’s a calling from deep within us asking us to get quiet and to focus on the things that resonate with us on a core level as we prepare to move into a season of rest, renewal, and rejuvenation. While living in a modern world where the cyclical shifts of the seasons can feel like they’re happening next to us while we’re often living in a perpetual forward motion can be challenging. However, we can find ways to work with this push pull dichotomy so that we can integrate these experiences into our own lives in ways that work for us. We’re part of those cycles too and as we find ways to lean into them, we can find a place that feels more like us and feels more enjoyable.

Like most things, there’s no one way or right way to create this experience, there are only the ways that are right for you and your lifestyle; and you’re the only person who knows which ways are the right ways for you. If we think about lighting our lamp from within, we can focus on the aspects, areas, themes, or values that feel soothing, comforting, and like coming home as great places to start. Please remember that there’s no wrong answer here, and you can change your answers by adding to your list or removing things at any time you choose.

You may want to ask yourself the following questions to help you get started:

  • What do I know that I need to do for myself right now?

  • What is my body telling me that I need right now?

  • How can I nurture my soul right now?

  • In what ways can I create a space that feels supportive, soothing, and peaceful to me right now?

  • What kinds of sounds, scents, and textures feel like the right fit for me right now?

  • How can I cultivate a feeling that represents me right now?

  • Are there any things I can let go from my to do list right now? If so, what?

  • How can I lean into this season of light right now?

  • What does the season of light mean to me?

  • How can I light my lamp from within right now?

  • Is there a theme I want to focus on for this season of light? If so, what?

Some of the things that showed up for you may be things that you expected to find while others may be a surprise for you. Please know this isn’t another thing to add to your to do list but rather an opportunity to understand which areas or aspects of this season are speaking to you. The areas that are prescient for you may be similar to someone else’s but they may be entirely tailored for you. Give yourself permission to lean into your season of light in the ways that resonate for you. This can help to create a season that feels uplifting, supportive, and meaningful for you in a special way. It can also help you to slow down a bit and to feel the experience of the season, the cycles, and the celebratory qualities of this time of year.

This season can bring up lots of big feelings, emotions, and experiences. Sometimes, by taking a little time to cultivate and nurture your own light, it can help ease any big feelings that come up at this time of year. As the days grow darker and the nights longer, we’re given an opportunity to increase our own light and the light we have around us. My wish for you this season is that you allow your light to shine in full spectrum not only for the benefit of your loved ones but also for yourself. Feed your light with the love you have for your life. Fill your light with the things, people, situations, and activities that you love. You may want to add some intentions you have for yourself as well as you continue to light your lamp from within all season long.

In deepest gratitude and love, thank you so much for being here and being part of my life this year.
I’m holding you and yours in my thoughts this season. The light within me honors the lights within you.

I’m sending you all my love from my teeny tiny corner of the world right to you.

Love,
Kristy~ xoxo

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