It was a frenetic spring, a busy and also bruising spring.
You too?
I’ve been desperate to put my body in a body of water lately, even if just for a minute. I want to sit outside in the hammock or walk through the foothills of wildflowers— shocks of electric orange, purple, iridescent blue. The flowers soaking up rare spring rains, respond with an explosions of petals. My 4th year arnica patch is robust. Cactus blooms, even the yucca is blooming for the first time in 4 years! The bindweed is attempting their take over of the garden again.
Do you need to take a deep breath too?
Remember connection to self and beyond self too?
Going into this summer— the best time of year in the high desert— my one wish is FUN. There have been a lot of barriers so far, lots of things to worry about and wonder about, lots of horror in the larger world at every turn, lots of things I have no control over that are happening however they want to. I’m finding myself wishing things were different, easier, as if the world’s big problems and my small problems could just pause for a few months. I’ve been getting stuck in the muck, ruminating thoughts.
I’m feeling on the edge of something, a shift, an expansion, maybe on the edge of loosening my grip and trusting life again— even if it’s hard, even if it’s breaking my heart, especially when I remember how little control I have.
I’m getting back into a morning routine— or rather, I’m thinking about getting back into a morning routine, I’m moving towards it. Something simple— some stretching, some breathing, some sitting (or laying) meditation, pulling a card or two, writing if the words come easy enough. I may be a breathwork practitioner but even we fall out of routine sometimes! It’s called life, living, just being a person in the world navigating it all, too. I’ll be headed to a week long meditation retreat in September so I’m getting myself ready.
STAR BODIES
If you’re finding yourself uneasy, too, as we near the halfway mark of the year (what?! how!?)— on June 20th at 5-7pm MT, astrologer (and my big gay love— happy pride, all you queer cuties) Rose Blakelock and I will be offering our second STAR BODIES: a solstice breathwork + astrology workshop. Here’s what it will be like:
The first quarter of the astrological year is behind us. As we bid farewell to a frenetic and full Gemini solar season, we cross a seasonal threshold. Solstices mark a turning point. A shift in energy, and an invitation to deepen. Cancer season invites us to retreat into ourselves, to sort through the emotional and relational impact of a busy and stressful spring, and create and return to ways to nurture ourselves and each other. It is from this place of deep center that we are able to summon the strength and resources required to continue forward.
With this in mind, Jennifer Patterson and Rose Blakelock invite you to join them for Star Bodies. This sliding scale virtual workshop intends to provide a container in which to breathe and write into/out of the stars. How does the solstice land in our bodies, our breath? What in you needs nurturance and care? Where do you want to deepen your commitment to yourself and those in your orbit?
Rose will begin the workshop by grounding us into the current astrology; what we’ve been through so far and what lies ahead this quarter. Jennifer will then lead us in a Breathwork practice. There will be some time for writing and sharing afterward.
The workshop is 2 hours and $50-20$ sliding scale. If you cannot attend live, a recording* of the astrological overview and breathwork practice will be shared via email within a few days of the live event.
*Live participant sharing will not be recorded.
ENERGY FIELDS
I took a break from making a flower essence infused watercolor painting for July’s ENERGY FIELDS: a monthly essence club to write this and now I want to tell you about this club. This is just the second month and it’s definitely bringing some of the fun I needed. I know, I know— but work can sometimes be fun too especially when hanging in the sun dreaming into the kit I’ll be sending everyone later this month.
In June— the folks in the club are working with ocotillo— big heat and fire energy! For July, we’re going a little softer. The monthly kits are secrets until they arrive to your door. What’s in the kit?
Each month you will receive one essence—different each month—alongside some suggested somatic practices and writing prompts to explore your relationship with the essence. You will also receive a short piece of writing about the energetic essence from me, in an envelope, to be opened at the end of the month after you’ve explored the essence on your own— alongside a earth-based pigment mini-painting print made by me working with the essence itself.
This will ship out right around the 28th of each month— in time for working with in the next month.
Last day to receive the next month’s essence will be the 24th of each month— so if you want to get June’s— you must sign up on or before May 24th, if you want July’s— you must sign up by June 24th and so on.
This is a subscription club so you once you sign up, you will be billed every month— you can cancel at any time before the 24th of the month.
Here’s a peek at what June’s looked like— a little cut off but you get the idea! And there's also the already mentioned secret card in an envelope-- to be opened at the end of the month, after you've built your relationship to the essence! Fun, right?!:
I’m hoping to keep this club going for at least a year ( I mean— longer hopefully!!)— so after a year you’ll have so many new supports and friends to call on especially as the days grow colder and wilder in this election year.
Come find me if you need a little support and if not me, hope you reach out to your dear ones, hope you get some time to rest, just be, hope you get to swim and explore and remember the beauty to hold all the heavy.