A Meditation to Honor What We Let Go
Write with love and gratitude to every leaf you've released
Dear Friend,
As the month of October moves towards its final days, I feel myself getting ready for the darker nights. Slowing down, turning inward.
In Celtic cultures Samhain marked a turning time: from the end of harvest to the start of the darker time of the year. A middle point between the Autumn Equinox and the Winter Solstice.
So much is churning around us in the external world right now. Election anxiety, anyone?!
Paying attention to the seasons can ground us and help us connect to the deeper parts of our spirits–especially when the human world feels so uncertain.
Through the month, we’ve explored the practice of letting go in our bodies, emotions, and energy. I’ve been thinking about the trees and taking in their amazing beauty around during these last October days. Here’s just one of so many I’ve walked by over the last few days:
Letting go reminds me of this great teaching from artist Iulia Bochis:
That idea:
i can honor/the leaves I’ve lost/without wanting/them back
inspires me.
Take a listen at the arrow above for a guided meditation into this idea and then come on back and write about your leaves–the ones you’ve lost, the ones you’ve let go.
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. You can hear me guide you through today’s writing prompt at the arrow above.
Prompt: You’ll find the guided meditation at the arrow above. Take a listen. What images and visions came up for you during this meditation?
Write your gratitude for the ‘leaves you’ve lost’–however you interpret that image.
If you struggled with the meditation, no worries. Sit with this question for a few minutes and then write: How can I thank and honor the parts of myself and my experiences that I’ve released? Start writing and keep writing! Even if you write ‘I don’t know’ for a while, something else will come.
I would love to read your expressions. Feel free to comment below or use the messaging app to reach me.
Have a buddy who might like this meditation and prompt? Send it along!
Deepening Practice: Spend time outdoors when you can during the hour when the sun goes down. Notice the subtle changes in light each day. Notice how the darkness feels in your body. Journal about what you see and what you feel.
May the week ahead bring you moments of gratitude and appreciation…some joy, festivity and plenty of leftover candy! With love, Gabrielle Ariella