when the world tries to shake and break you
making space for ritual // week 3
a weekly anchoring practice to stay rooted in seasons of change // week 2
Welcome to our third segment of making space for ritual. As I set out to make space for our Intuitively Wild home IRL (SIGN UP FOR THE WAITLIST HERE!) I am committing myself to staying present, intentional, and soft.
Devoting ourselves to a life of spaciousness amidst a huge life change and the chaos of a crazy world takes daily commitment and remembering. So here we are - showing up and making the space for that intention, together. (Make sure to check out the other posts in the series for context and depth: - announcement post. - week 1. - week 2.)
This week: prioritising space and presence in steadfast devotion to a steady and stable life.
The world will try to push you off centre - we get to make space to respond differently.
Building a foundation beneath my feet with intentionality, allows me to land on steady ground.
Each day I re-commit to this way of showing up, no matter what tries to shake and break the foundation I’ve built. And let me tell you, things definitely tried to shake and break me this week.
Here’s how I decided to strengthen my foundation in response —
HOW I MADE SPACE
🫖🕯️
—> LESSONS LEARNED
This week brought up some stuff to sort through. I felt my peace being threatened by way of external misunderstandings, expectations and unnecessary noise. I had to disconnect from it all to reconnect to myself.
I learned that life becomes a lot more free when you free yourself.
Although I recorded this week’s podcast episode two weeks ago, what I talked about continued to ripple through this last week.
This episode is July’s reflection and intention setting episode and it definitely feels like my rawest to date.
I went in and recorded with a full, bursting, cracked open heart and overflowing mind. I didn’t edit it at all, and I recorded it on a Thursday morning - before showering, sweaty, sticky, still spinning from the summer solstice event the night before.
It felt scary to post it (with video especially) because we’re taught to care about these things. We’re taught to care about production and performance and appearances and what is or isn’t professional or pretty. But, the truth is, and one of the main things I learned this week, is that I DON’T care about those things.
And I’m done caring about things I don’t actually care about at my core just because I’ve been conditioned to care about them or I think other people care about them.
This is a reminder to question the things you truly care about and why
& to allow yourself to align with those truths despite what society tells you to do
—> to know your values
—> to live them out with integrity
—> to follow your own truth with courage
—> to allow for that vulnerability
You can listen on apple, spotify, youtube (or anywhere else you like to listen to your podcasts. And can take it in fully by watching here:
—> CHALLENGES NAVIGATED
I had moments this week where I could clearly see when things were trying to steal my peace, presence, sense of self and self-assurance.
I am someone who loves my work. I am so excited about what I’m creating and it doesn’t feel like a sacrifice to pour my energy and attention into it. Yes, it requires saying no to other things, having certain priorities settled, and making choices that align with them.
But, we are always having to make choices. We always have to choose what gets our attention in each moment.
Others may not understand how you lead your life, the choices you make, the values you align with - don’t let that lead you to doubting yourself. Don’t let their confusion fog your clarity.
People may question your choices because their’s are different, or because they want yours to be what would be best for them… don’t let that steal your focus, confidence, and steadfast devotion to your dreams.
Especially when you are doing something scary and uncertain, it is so important to be aware of who you are surrounding yourself with, and how they are making you feel.
This week, I watched how situations popped up that tried to steal me away from myself.
Situations that belittled my process and pushed my boundaries. Situations that would have caused a past version of myself to try to appease, please, shape shift, show up… for someone else. Or, to shut down, panic, spiral.
Instead, I paused. I leaned further into myself. I prioritised what I needed to show up for myself and my life with integrity.
I stayed with myself —
Practically this looked like processing with my therapist, setting boundaries, making more space for silence, getting out in nature, journaling. And, primarily, feeling what I needed to feel and affirming myself.
Only because I know myself so well, and because I have the tools to reground, recenter and reroute was I able to return to a place of grounded presence as quickly and confidently as I did.
So, just a reminder that…
You can trust yourself.
You can trust how people make you feel.
Our body is wiser than we ever give her credit for.
She is speaking to us. Always. In the sensations we feel in our chest, the panic building in our throat, the peace landing in our hearts.
Especially if you have a defined sacral in human design (AKA you are a generator or manifesting generator) or if you have an emotional authority. But, for everyone, our emotions are speaking to us.
Our body has wisdom beyond what our rational mind can explain.
You don’t need to talk yourself out of what you innately, instinctually, intuitively, feel to be true. You can just trust it.
You can trust yourself.
—> (SELF)APPRECIATION
I appreciate my depth of self trust. I appreciate the fact that no matter how people misunderstand, perceive, judge or impact me - I know myself. And I am always able to come home to that.
—> GRATITUDE FELT
I drove up to Massachusetts on Thursday to spend the long weekend with my parents. It was, honestly, glorious. We (I) hiked, visited several bookstores, had tea, did yoga outside, spent hours talking and then saw James Taylor in concert while the fourth of July fireworks fired around us and the cicadas sang back up. While I have mixed feelings around 4th of July, fireworks, etc… I let myself lean into the nostalgic summertime feeling of spending a summer 4th of July with your parents at a concert.
Joy.
—> LOCAL HIGHLIGHT
I have to shout out nature. Specifically, my local nature life support. I live twenty minutes from Minnewaska State Park and having this kind of easy access to it has changed my life and I will never look back. If you are ever in the area, or want to take a little trip, Minnewaska is well worth it. It is gorgeous, the trails are well kept, and there are different options for everyone. I am proud to call this nature preserve part of my home.
—> RITUAL
Here is a ritual that can help you come back to yourself when you’re feeling pulled off centre.
You can do this anywhere - even if you are in a busy office building or airport. Or, you can do this in your most sacred space. Find a place nearby that you feel can bring you the most grounding and peace you can currently access.
If you are at home, grab whatever tools you find support you, if any. Such as a candle, incense, yoga mat, journal…
Notice where your body is touching the earth - whether that is your feet rooted on the floor, your back against the wall, your butt hitting a chair.
My favourite way to do this is back flat on the earth, eyes up to the sky, hands pressed firmly against my heart.
Then tune into any sensations in your body. Trying to track whatever you are feeling and where it is located in your body. Take time to watch it. Observe the sensations and feelings as if they were something separate from you.
Ask yourself - what is this feeling trying to tell me? How can I give it exactly what it needs, to the best of my ability, right now? How can I show up for myself with steadfast devotion for the rest of the day? How can I stay with myself, no matter what may pop up that tries to drag me away?
Set an intention and make a promise to yourself, finishing with an intentional action that you can commit to do in that day.
Take as long as you need, or are able to here. Move slowly. Make space.
—> INTENTIONS DECLARED
to focus on a steady pace, a patient heart, and a processing mind.
steady - the last few weeks have felt like a whirlwind of energy and excitement and unexpected craziness, this week I want to ground it down and keep my energy and emotions steady and supported
patient - continuing to lean into the trust. trusting my timeline, my path, my process… even when I wish the pace was different
contemplative - there is a lot I’m reflecting and processing right now, I want to give myself the space to do so and romanticize that process for myself
I move at the pace of presence. No quicker, no slower.
If my pace brings me out of presence, it is a sign to press pause.
—> & poems podcasts prompts plants stories songs statements people places ponderings - pieces of life - … that grounded me this week
another week passed another book finished… this is the book I devoured this week. and I do recommend it. confronting, emotional and beautifully written. I learned so much about that moment in history and it reminded me of the power of the human spirit and relationships.
I also devoured this book in one sitting while getting satisfyingly sunburnt and I regret nothing. The perfect summer read.
while I’m still listening to this song I referred to in last weeks post, this album has got me channeling summertime energy. Nothing can beat country music in the summer. Don’t fight me.
This substack article I’ve been pondering.
This post that kept me steadfast & grounded:
Can’t wait to reflect and make space together next week.
See you then xx,
Rachel