A Blessing for what Sustains Us
Offering gratitude for what gives you life
Dear Friend,
Here’s a question for you:
What gives you life?
I don’t mean the basics: food, water and shelter. We know that babies need to be nurtured to thrive and that growing humans need a sense of purpose and connection to feel well physically and emotionally.
Sometimes I’m in touch with a sense of purpose and at other times, purpose is a mystery in progress, always unraveling.
More of what anchors me is noticing the tangible things in my life that motivate and inspire me, that help me to hang on during really hard challenges. That make my experience here on earth vivid with color, rich with texture.
The things that make me feel alive.
I have many of those things: flowers and trees; my creative impulse; silly, absurd, awkward moments that make me laugh at myself; texts with old and dear friends; intimate time with loved ones. My dog Odin. The smell of lavender. Pictures of my ancestors. A strong Americano. Remembering my dreams. Basil from my garden. Potato chips and really good hand cut french fries, to name a few.
As humans, we can’t stay in a state of appreciation for what sustains us all of the time–life is too damn hard.
But we can practice noticing what animates us. The word animate comes from the Latin for bestowing of life.
June is my birth month and also the time of Summer Solstice (more on that below). As someone who has lived with chronic illness for 42 years and has also survived cancer, I don’t take birthdays for granted. If anyone out there is scared of aging–chat with me! I love the chance to get older; I view it as a great privilege.
June’s theme is Animating. This month, we’ll write about what brings our spirits to life.
Let’s begin by writing a blessing for the new month.
If you have a friend who might be yearning for some connection & creativity, invite them here to play!
Writing Practice: Set aside 5-7 minutes for this practice. Write in a journal or open a ‘Journey with The Season’ document where you can return each Sunday.
Prompt: Time to write our June intentions & prayers. Begin by listing all of the things that nurture your spirit and make you feel alive. Write them out and offer thanks for those things.
If you’re struggling right now, it’s okay to ask for more things to nurture and animate you. To ask for help.
Offer blessings for others to feel a sense of life force, joy and energy, as well.
Add any intentions and hopes for the month ahead.
Some phrases to get you started:
I’m grateful for…
I feel alive when I…
These things nurture my spirit…
I offer blessings to…
This month I hope to…
Place your June prayer/intentions somewhere you’ll see it as you start your day.
I’d love to read your expressions. Leave a comment here or try the messaging app.
Deepening Practice: If you typed your monthly intentions, try writing them out again by hand. Take markers, pens, watercolors or pastels and add some color to them. Highlight words that feel most important to you. Collage images around them. Place your June intentions somewhere you’ll see them regularly. Add to them through the month.
PS: If you need more inspiration to notice the little things that bring you joy, I highly recommend Ross Gay’s The Book of Delights.
Join the fun! Summer Solstice Writing Circle
Ancient cultures honored the longest day of the year with festivals and rituals to honor the sun. In agricultural societies, the sun’s power to nurture crops was vital to survival.
Connect to this amazing star that makes life on earth possible. In this creative circle, we’ll explore that connection and investigate what makes each of us shine. This online expressive writing circle which takes place on summer solstice eve will also be recorded for your convenience.
You can join us in a few ways:
If you’re already a paid subscriber, you’re in! I’ll email you the link a few days before the event.
If you’re not a paid subscriber, you can sign up and pay for the event here.
OR…you can jump on to my June birthday special offer and become a paid’Journey with the Seasons’ subscriber for a 21% discount! What?!!! ‘That’s right!’ (voice of Ron Popeil).Paid subscribers get free admission for both my summer and winter solstice writing circles, two journals and also special discounts to all of my writing circles. Oh–also my eternal gratitude.
Wishing you a month of life-sustaining energy. And happy Pride to all! Love, Gabrielle Ariella