Attuning to the Rhythms of Nature
As human beings, we are nature. Another manifestation of the same principles that exist within every living thing. We come, we go. And the same goes for any phenomena that arises within our lives. We are cyclical beings in some ways constantly experiencing cycles of beginning and endings, life and death. Nothing is finite, and everything is temporary. Knowing this and reminding ourselves of this constant evolutionary process makes the hardships easier to bear and the moments of delight that much sweeter. The more we remind ourselves of this truth our love deepens and our connectedness grows.
When we attune ourselves to these rhythms of nature, we become more balanced. It can evoke a sense of being a part of something larger and more beautiful than you could ever imagine. There are many powerful ways to be an active observer and participant of these cycles.
This may come naturally to women of childbearing age, as we experience the cyclical nature of our menstrual cycles. It can affect our physical body, emotions, thoughts, the way we perceive reality. I love the comparison of our own cycles to both the lunar cycles and the seasonal changes. Your energy levels could be described as new, waxing, full and waning. It can also be related to the seasons: winter, spring, summer, fall. Women who are in tune with where they are at in their cycle generally share that information before any bodywork because it's such a valuable way to describe how they are feeling.
People who are not child bearing, can do self-inquiry in relation to the lunar cycles. Checking in with how they feel every new and full moon. I love to practice rituals to tap into this. Planting proverbial seeds with the new moon and recognizing what has emerged on the full moons. This process allows me to realize all the ways in which life is changing. If you wanted to take it a step further you could even look into the astrological signs that these lunar cycles are taking place in. That’s a powerful practice because the astrological signs also correlate in regards to the year and archetypes of the seasons.
Which leads me to a larger practice of attuning yourself to the seasons: honoring what each season stands for, and working with the cycles of nature to have more flow and alignment in your life. For example, it might be better to rest more in the winter when the nights are longer and the days are short and initiate things that you're going to need a lot of energy for in the spring when the days are growing longer and the nights are shorter. Nature itself can be supportive of your creative process. That same principle goes for the lunar and menstrual cycles as well. You want to create at the peak of energy. Conversely, you want to rest and create space for ideas to emerge when the energy is diminished.
If you want to drop deeper into this practice, I highly recommend tending a garden. The plants have so much wisdom to teach you about the nature of yourself. You will see yourself reflected in them. We are not so different after all.
We are cyclical beings. With large and small transformations happening all simultaneously. Taking time to connect with these rhythms of our own life makes our experience richer, helps us be more present, and fills us with wonder, awe, and connectedness.
