writing to me, is simply thinking through my fingers
~ Issac asimov
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Believe it or not, there are some amazing gifts in being criticized. Beyond the initial punch-in-the-gut response we feel when someone expresses judgement about us, if we can steady ourselves emotionally as a first step, then we are well-positioned to glean the gifts wrapped in the messy packaging of criticism.
The art of pysanky, or egg “writing” is a tradition from the lands now known as the Ukraine (as well as other Slavic areas). This ancient practice was used to tell the stories of families, history, and hope. Pysanky is just one form of egg ritual and magic.
The underworld is a rich environment where we can explore our relationships with the wise dwellers of the dark; gods and goddesses, spirit animals, mycelium, and microbes. The underworld is teeming with relational opportunities if we enter the crystal caves below with a sense of respect, reciprocity, and curiosity….
This season of the year is historically when the “veil is thin,” meaning that our dealings with the spirit ‘world’ may be heightened, accelerated, or amplified. Cross-culturally it is a time when one’s ancestors are venerated and rituals and offerings are made as a show of love, respect, and remembrance.
I felt time slow to a grinding halt as all my synapses began to contort around the concept of the thousands and thousands of people who had made my life possible. In that same moment, the reality of how utterly disconnected I was from a massive part of who I am came flooding in. All my life I just thought of me, my immediate family, and my Grandparents. The tiny little autonomous bubble of pervasive individuality I had been living in had just been popped.
Often cut off our ancestral roots because we either don’t like what we see or it is too emotionally difficult to manage the pain of the last few generations. Yes, and, it is important to remember that our roots extend further than just our remembered people. Our lineages are ancient. And those folks have some pretty amazing wisdom to share with us.
The phoenix energy in our lives was choreographed to initiate us into new dynamics of a fresh elemental cycle that will expedite our growth. In nature years we become the muse of all things magical as we embrace new endeavors that will elevate us. We realize that the change from a fire to a nature year means we are capable of ANYTHING because planted within us are seeds that required the fiery flame to regenerate.