My favorite tradition in finishing the year is snuggling up with Jose and Lena Stevens’ Power Path Trends Forecast. It’s a personality profile for the next year and offers great insight to what we can expect to work with energetically and how to show up to remain centered through it all. It is only $15 for over two hours of audio content and so much fun to digest and absorb!

At this point in the year, I think we’re all ready to ring in 2021 with hope and optimism. Let’s do that! Let’s also stay rooted in the reality that we are responsible for creating the life we want to live despite outside circumstances.

Trust has been coming up a lot lately, specifically around all of the fear that has surfaced around the election, the New Year, our economy, and the continuing evolution of the pandemic we’re in. A few months ago I heard Carolyn Myss say that you have to be able to trust yourself to have any idea what to trust outside of yourself. And to do this, you must commit to something. It doesn’t have to be anything big, a 10 minute walk every day, but that one thing needs to be consistently done every day.

The reason for this is to show yourself that you’re worth it. You’re worth that 10 minute walk, because you said you’d do it, and by showing up for yourself, you know you can rely on yourself when you start to question your circumstances.

This couldn’t be more critical right now when part of the energy of next year consists of passionate action. This means we’re all going to be active in our opinions and outward expressions, and the only way to continue to remain centered (at peace) through this noise, is to continue to go inward. ​

Going inward means blocking out the world: quieting the mind through meditation, slowing down, journaling, doing sessions at the Cave. The world taught us quite a bit this year about what it means to stop the rat race. We need more of this, more intentionality, more stillness, even if it’s only a few minutes a day.

Learning to trust yourself is the first step in not being swayed by outside influence that may or may not be correct, anything from conspiracy theories to government mandates. Now is the time to go inward, stay centered, and root down.

This reminded me of a TED Talk I referenced a while back by Kathryn Shulz on being wrong. We don’t like to be wrong, we feel bad once we realize we’re wrong because of conditioning, but the irony in it all is that until it’s pointed out to us that we’re wrong, we feel right.

Right or wrong, black or white, it might be easier if things become a little more grey for us in the coming months. Not to say don’t stand by your convictions, but remember to stay rooted in love. Let’s keep learning and practicing the art of listening to one another.

Jose’ kicks off the trends talk by saying that we’re going to spend the next 4-7 years recovering from 2020. 2021 is our first year in recovery. Recovery requires many acts of grace, community support, and a commitment to ourselves. Let’s be intentional about going inward so we can create a healthier environment for future generations.

“If you really want to rediscover wonder, you need to step outside of that tiny, terrified space of rightness and look around at each other and be able to say, ‘I don’t know. Maybe I’m wrong.’” - Kathryn Shulz

John and I had the opportunity to rent a tandem bike for the afternoon recently and my inner child was at play for the day. I honestly don’t remember the last time I’d laughed that hard. I had limited visibility (mostly of his back) and no control which was a joke in itself, so I just pedaled and provided commentary. We took her across the Big Four Bridge to the Falls of the Ohio where the water was so low we could nearly cross the river on foot. We marveled at the age of the fossils we stood above, and breathed deeply the beauty around us.

These are the days of Coronavirus. The Leo Weekly recently published people’s best and worst about Coronavirus and I loved peoples interpretations. Unknown was listed in the worst section, and I nodded in agreement fully. In reflection, this could also be the best part about the entire pandemic. We know nothing, so all we can do right now is the best we know how, which really does make us #inthistogether. 

How is this trauma going to affect us long-term? What coping skills are we learning? Is compassion going to actually have it’s place? We are going through an awakening and the advice from all of the sages is to get serious about being present with ourselves - the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Caroline Myss says we’re moving from the time of the guru, where we expect a savior, something outside of ourselves to come and save us, to waking the inner child, where we’re going to rely on ourselves to be that saving grace.

Sonja Grace writes that we’re entering the dark night of the soul and we must nurture the inner child in order to do the transformational work into adulthood. The Power Path has put out monthly forecasts all year about tenacity and the need to keep going no matter what.

There have been moments during this pandemic where I’ve been deep in the inner work, nearly neglecting the other aspects of my responsibilities. There’ve been points of creativity where I’ve put to use the inspired action born of such times. And there’ve been the times where I’ve been gentle, giving myself a pass because we’re all walking around with trauma brain at the moment still trying to function in old ways of doing things.

During all of this, the intention of grace and resilience through prayer and tenacity have been foundational in getting me through. The gift of a tandem bike ride across the Ohio carries me for months.

In reviewing some old journals recently, I realized how prevalent gratitude is when I write freely. It surprised me. I really am a grateful person. It feels lost among the doubt that I can swim in on some pandemic days. So much so I considered not posting this blog in an attempt to only speak truth. It needs to be stated, and we need to remain focused on gratitude to create the future we want to be a part of.

Thanksgiving and the holiday season is going to look a bit different this year, and it could be our best chance to spend time in appreciation for our lives. How can you nurture your inner child so that you’re able to navigate continual change? How can you bring joy to your day? It seems that we do agree in some areas - the smallest things bring us the most happiness. As another great advisor always says; more of that, please.

I’m writing to you on a full moon, the energy is high and it’s taken more work than usual to find centeredness. I’m always searching and enjoy the journey.​

I want to discuss the fear pandemic. These times aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. I pray for the pandemic to wane, the civil rights movement is creating deep progressive change and our wounds continue to cry out for healing. It’s as if the work just gets more and more intimate.

We wake up every day with a choice. We can choose to be fueled in anger and frustration and resentment, or we can choose to see what the mirror is reflecting back to us and turn inward for salvation. As we move into this great awakening, there is only one resource to turn to for guidance, and that’s you.

Listening to an excerpt about the Law of One, the discussion was around True Freedom. This is the freedom found when you find your own way of being instead of following they. This is speaking (lovingly and constructively) how you truly feel without shame and fear.

We’re heading into a political season, God help us. If there is ever a time to turn inward and stop listening to the noise outside, it is now. The world around us is crazy right now, there’s no need to welcome negative external influences. Shut that shit down. You are the only person in control of what you allow in.

I’m turning inward for feedback these days and it feels like learning to walk again. I stumble and fall and have to find the courage and strength to get back up and try again.

There’s a lot of prayer, a lot of grace, and a lot of tuning in to listen. This is often challenged by a busy mind, so part of that listening for me is finding the gift in the moment of beautiful distractions. This morning’s meditation was interrupted by the cat and my nearly 10 year old playing in front of me. I came out, played, and spent the morning I’d dedicated to my practice gently waking my kids and shuffling them out the door to stumble on their own.

Staying in the flow of life means letting go of the daily to-do lists. This seems impossible with work from home and home schooling and all the things we built our lives around up to this point. But what would happen if we unplugged; turned off the news, shut down social media, and said no to the 2-3 extra zoom calls we likely don’t need to be a part of?

The Cave was built with the intention of unplugging for 45 minutes. We now offer longer sessions because that simply isn’t enough time if you aren’t doing it daily. How can we rebuild our society where the need to unplug is lessened?

While our business is struggling during this pandemic, it still warms my heart to see Shelbyville Road slow at 7pm. It fills me with hope when I see a store owner whose business was vandalized talk about their broken window and lost merchandise not comparing to 400 years of oppression.

I’m here for it. I don’t know what that means, other than I’m going to do my best every day to tune in and ask what is mine to do and follow that over my to-do list. Let’s change the world together. Let’s take responsibility for what is showing up in our mirror, our shadow sides. Let’s stop blaming and start loving.

“I’ll just listen and wait for you” - Caroline Myss

The fight to end the persecution of black people must bring change. I’m hopeful for that. 

I believe that we (white America) are generationally responsible for this. We wouldn’t be here if we hadn’t enforced slavery to begin with. Personally, I should have taken more time to listen, changed my priorities, and not looked away when things were said in my proximity. It starts with me.

In order to do this effectively and create positive change, we must try to come from a place of centeredness. 

According to the Tao, the middle is the way toward universal harmony. There are extremes in all circumstance and it is our purpose to constantly strive toward the center of our being to connect with this harmony. This doesn't mean sit on the fence, this means go inward to seek truth; let yourself be disrupted and seek the space between. This is where the truth of our being lives.

We must choose to be on the side of mercy, love, and grace, but in order to do this honestly we have to have a difficult confrontation to our contribution.

I have so much to learn and am committing myself to doing that. I’d like to share what one of my coaches, Jacque Saltsman, has gathered as resources to better understand.

She also suggests signing up for the Whiteness at Work class taking place next week. I’m registered. 

I believe that love will prevail through courageous acts of turning within and moving that understanding to action. I hope you join me. 
​
Jacque Saltsman Post from May 29

EDITED 6/2/20 * After several people asked to share this post publicly outside of Facebook, I wanted to make sure it is centered around and gives credit to the Black Women from which I have learned. Many are listed below, but especially Demetria Miles McDonald at Decide Diversity, Lettie Johnson at Gifted By Design Leadership & Consulting Firm, Desiree Adaway, Austin Channing Brown, and Roxane Gay.
-------------------------------------------
"But what can I do?" I can't tell you how many times I've asked myself that question or heard other people ask it. Well, the answer is: A LOT. There is a lot we can do. And WE (white America) are responsible for changing this. So, to my white friends, here are some ideas of what we can do. These are things I've learned from teachers and activists of color I've been following and learning from over the past few years. It's not comprehensive. It's a start. Please add more resources in the comments and I'll update the list.

TAKE ACTION.
Make the calls. Send the emails. Write the letters. Sign the petitions. March at the protests. It helps. Follow trustworthy sources who tend to have calls-to-actions in their posts (Shaun King, Black Lives Matter, Black Lives Matter Louisville, Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ), Louisville SURJ - (Showing Up for Racial Justice), Grassroots Law Project.

EDUCATE YOURSELF on systemic racism.
Read books like WHITE FRAGILITY (I can't recommend this one enough) by Robin DiAngelo, BIASED by Dr. Jennifer Eberhardt, ME & WHITE SUPREMACY by Layla F. Saad, I'M STILL HERE by Austin Channing Brown, STAMPED and HOW TO BE ANTIRACIST by Ibram X. Kendi.

HIRE PEOPLE OF COLOR to help you and your organization change. 
My local favorites are Decide Diversity and Lettie Johnson & SteVon Edwards-Mph with Gifted By Design Leadership & Consulting Firm.

LEARN ON SOCIAL MEDIA (AND PAY THEM FOR THEIR PROGRAMS). 
Fill your feeds (FB, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn) with activists and teachers who are doing this work. Some of my favorites are Layla F. Saad (IG @laylafsaad), Hannah Drake (IG @hannahdrake628), Desiree Adaway (IG @desireeadaway), Jessica Fish (IG @j.essicafish), Ericka Hart (IG @ihartericka), Roxane Gay (IG @roxanegay74), Ericka Hines (IG @divahines), Rachel Elizabeth Cargle (IG @rachel.cargel) Shaun King (IG @shaunking), Black Lives Matter (IG @blklivesmatter).
*There will be times when you will not like what they are saying. It will sting but stick with it. This isn't about your feelings. It's about dismantling racism. Sit with the hard questions and ask yourself how it's true for you.

CONSUME MEDIA (movies, tv, books, podcasts, music, art) written, directed, starring and featuring people who don't look like you. And not just about racial issues. And NOT movies made by white people about black people. If you like comedies, watch funny movies created by people of color. Same with books, podcasts and shows.

SAME WITH SOCIAL MEDIA
Make sure at least 1/4 of your feeds are from people who don't look like you. If you're into design, follow black designers. Same with cars, food, literally anything you are interested in.

SUPPORT BUSINESSES OWNED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR. 
Be intentional about where you spend your money. Think about where you eat, shop and who you do business with. If there aren't black people on that list, change it. (btw, If you haven't eaten at Lucretia's Kitchen, you are seriously missing out.)

GET SUPPORT
Reach out. Lean on each other. Engage your white friends who are also learning. (Check on your Black friends, but DO NOT go to them with your feelings of guilt, shame, fear or uncertainty).
This is hard work, but not nearly as hard as fearing for your life just because of the color of your skin.
#neverbesilent #dothework 
Lives depend on it.
If we don't have an intentional anti-racist plan for ourselves, our families and our businesses, then we are unintentionally perpetuating racism.
And THAT MUST STOP. NOW.
(I am still a toddler on this journey, but if I can help you in any way, please let me know.)

The beautiful thing about the world under quarantine is we’re finding new ways to connect and lift one another up. I was actually inspired by the commercials last night after tuning in to Survivor (it felt fitting).  ​

It seems that the Universe has delivered again when my focus for the year was to reign in energetically. This slowing down provides a gift of deliberate allowance for what needs to come up for us to work through. Aren’t we trying not to fall back into old patterns of doing things? Trying to find compassion and the beauty in each moment? We have to believe there is something bigger than any of us can comprehend waiting on the other side. 

In this place of uncertainty, one gift we can offer ourselves and community is allowance. There has been a strong desire to connect with you all, but we’re not sure how to do that when the Cave seems to be the place of refuge. We understand everyone is dealing with their own struggles around this displacement but we want your input on how to best serve you when we reopen. 

We decided to take preventative measures last week and close before any mandates came out because prevention and community are core values. The only thing known by Friday of last week was that we didn’t know enough, and it was best for us to step back to regroup so that we could serve our community on the back end of this thing. 

So that’s what we’re doing. We’re working on ensuring the safest possible environment for your salt therapy experience. This modality is going to be more essential than ever with the need for healthy lung and immune function being a priority for us all.

And we’re being very intentional with this recent gift of time. 

Our family has been reading The Giver this week. This futuristic world shelters their community from the pains and pleasures of life, because it makes for good order, but there was so much hidden from the people in the process. 

Our daily discussions around the story and what is happening in our world give us talking points about our ability to create freedom through choice and we’re learning so much from our children who provide unique perspectives.

The Four Agreements shares the wisdom of the Toltec who believe our dreams (conscious and unconscious) create our reality. If this is true, what do we have to learn from what we’ve created so far? What are you doing every day to create the future you want to be a part of? 

I want to know. And I want to slow down enough to love you through it all.