Like many people over the course of the past few years, I've been tending to some deep emotional states, in my case grief. As I write this we are about to transition into Autumn - the season related to grief and letting go. A potent transitional phase of the year.
I thought to share some of my personal tools, that help me navigate changes in relationships, life stages and projects. Aspects that may have been focused on for some time, yet now have reached conclusion and beg to be let go of.
Celebrating Abundance
First of all this season, the harvest of Mabon, Autumn Equinox is a celebration of all the abundance that has grown this year. It's a time to gather in and celebrate what has come to fruition. Also time to reflect what may need more tending, next time around. This is a visionary part of the year. Notice now Nature is in her months of letting go of everything that was created this year - in gentle preparation of a new creative cycle to begin.
The Art of Surrender
As we keep moving forward, navigating any change is usually quite an emotionally challenging process - and one that requires first, letting go. This can bring up a sense of wanting to cling to what once was, or what could have been. Give this stage enough time to be felt. Yet for you to move forward, grow and make enough space for new energies to expand in - at some point in the future, you can allow this energy to flow back to Source to transform.
If your heart/ mental or physical space is full, the new has no room to take root.
Warrior Energy
The letting go process can be tricky, but we can look to Nature to get inspiration on how to do this with grace. Take a look outside to the plants and trees; from now until the Winter, you will see the different tiers of the grieving/ shedding cycle.
First the colour changes, then, one or two leaves are shed. Before long there seem only the stems and trunks standing naked and bare. This part especially reflects the true Warrior Energy it takes to transform. Yet in this seeming dark void, all is not lost or really dead. Transformational energy is now channeled within/ underground, to nourish the tiny idea or seed. In a distant vision, that one day new shoots will eventually appear, when Springtime comes around again.
See the elegance of this phase, the softness and beauty. Can you surrender this much? Allowing everything that is not needed to drop ? Can you trust & surrender to this eternal creation cycle ? Knowing you will be held by all that is
Tools to help transform emotions
In my personal life I experienced grief on a rather powerful, unexpected and panic attack inducing way. It crept up on me and dealt me a huge dose of something I thought was long healed. The wound came back open and the anxious heat that enflamed every inch of my skin was overwhelming
Scents that Move & Soothe
My first instinct was that I needed to be overpowered by the heady smoke of pure boswellia sacra resin, smouldering on burning coal. I don't do this practice often, as it's very smokey and powerful, however it has a place in healing.
Smoke Baths
Smoke baths are profoundly cleansing, deeply soothing - and can touch the Spirit, where even human companionship cannot go. For this you need some preferably Japanese charcoal (as it does not contain saltpeter), a sturdy and fire proof vessel, some sand and some high quality frankincense resin.
Set yourself up to receive this smoke bath, from the smouldering resin on top of the hot charcoal. 'Wash' the smoke over your whole being - your face, over the top of your head, fan around your whole body. Breathe in these powerful aromatics.
Transforming Energy
Notice a point near the end, when the resin becomes somewhat blackened. How the air becomes less citrusy and more deep ( I would say 'smoky' but this doesn't quite encapsulate this mystical void). Some people knock the charred resin off and extinguish the charcoal at this point. Yet, in my experience with grief, this part symbolises the transmutation of energy. If you are sensitive you may feel a shift and a profound clearing occurring at this stage. It has to be experienced, as words sometimes fail here.
Powerful Techniques for Overwhelm
I find in states of overwhelm, powerful techniques like this can be really transformative. Each will have their unique experience during the smoke bath, yet one thing I would like to leave you with ... is that plants are our allies in Spirit form. These techniques and resins have been passed down with associations to healers since ancient times. Frankincense is the healing sap of the Boswellia tree - and her lemony balm, will meet you in your deepest emotional states, to uplift your soul.
Tools We Offer
