I am in Awe of Myself...
I am in Awe of Myself...
September 13, 2021
Welcome to Monday Morning Mettā
A new + beautiful way to experience Mondays.
I am in awe of myself. I am in awe of all other beings.
In the Jewish tradition, the Days of Awe occur in the 10 days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The Days of Awe, between these two holy days ask Jews to seek reconciliation. I’ve always loved the phrase, “Days of Awe.” (also named the Days of Repentance… not as romantic.) This year, the Days of Awe asked me to seek awe. In small moments and in large ones.
I began the New Year in what has been and what I hope will continue to be a tradition for me: camping in Acadia National Park, the first place in the contiguous United States to see the sunrise each morning. And it was with great awe that I spent my New Year waking up under trees, listening to birds flap by my tent, watching the sun stream through the leaves, and going on a hike overlooking the beautiful Atlantic. I even jumped into the ocean at the end of a hike when I was sure no one was looking except the eagles overhead and the lobstermen anchored in the cove (hopefully none of them had binoculars!) My own mikvah.
I also found awe in my five-day Yin, mindfulness, Buddhist, and Taoist training with Sarah and Ty Powers, as well as in my weekend workshop on intuition with Laura Day. It was hard to schedule in the time, to miss work events and possible contracts, to miss seeing my private yoga clients. But it was worth it. Scheduling in time for yourself, to learn, grow, and to be generally in awe, is vital to self love and care.
I am in awe of this Earth. I am in awe of ritual and tradition. I am in awe of my self, my body, my mind, and the selves, bodies, and minds of all beings.
Happy New Year and may your New Year be sweet,
So glad you’re here.
Fun Tarot Card Reading!
Use your intuition to guide you to a specific card below. Choose the card with the crystal on it that calls to you.
At the end of this newsletter, you’ll see the cards flipped over, with a reading for each one. The card that you choose here will have your reading for the week.
Wait to scroll down to the bottom until you’ve chosen your card!
Card 1: Amethyst Choose this card if you need some balance in your life (whether it’s in a decision making process, highs and lows, or simply feeling imbalanced).
Card 2: Green Calcite Choose this card if you’re feeling some emotional or mental rigidity and/or if you’ve been feeling sick or low energy.
Card 3:Quartz Choose this card if you’d like a little more spirit in your life— whether that’s through meditation, energy, or healing.
Rachel’s Recommended Reading:
On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder: a quick, great set of guiding essays, with lessons and actions in each one. Timothy Snyder tells us all how to fight tyranny with 20 lessons from the 20th century. I took stock in what I already do and in what I am too lazy/scared/tired to do… and have started acting.
Leaving Before the Rains Come by Alexandra Fuller. Alexandra Fuller is hilarious and incredibly astute. She grew up in Southern Africa to white, British parents and has written many books on her childhood. This book, however, dissects the ending of her marriage to an American man. Beautifully done.
Sacred Instructions by Sherri Mitchell. Anyone who lives on US soil should read this book. Sherri Mitchell, born and raised on the Penobscot Reservation. In Sacred Instructions, she draws from ancestral knowledge and her experience as an attorney and activist, writing about environmental protection and human rights.
Thank you for reading. It means so much to me to have this little community newsletter actually go somewhere. Please share with anyone who might be interested in getting a little love each week.
Much love,
Rachel
xo
Your Tarot Reading, Revealed!
Your Tarot Reading, Explained!
Card 1: Amethyst This is your time! Boldly make that change you’ve been thinking of, whether it’s large or small—you are supported. This card, and the Knight, encourages you to have faith in yourself and to know you are headed in the right direction. This is the card of the element fire, so if you are feeling run-down and imbalanced, add a little zest to your day. Go for a hike, cook a fiery meal… do something to make you go “woah!”
Card 2: Green Calcite Honey. You need a break. Right now, you are only seeing the “yuck” in your life. Right now, you are yearning, with out seeing results. You may even be feeling physically ill. Give yourself permission to get sad, actually SAD, over whatever it is that’s making you feel so low. Once you feel sad, you can move from there. Take time out of your day to be with your “yuck,” breathe, do a little meditation. Feeling grief, actually feeling it, allows it to leave. Ignoring grief leads to grievances. Don’t let it get that far.
Card 3: Quartz This is it! You are already examining your spiritual path… now cultivate it. Pentacles is the suit is of abundance, resources, commitment, and growth. Find yourself those things. Seek out a class, or teacher, that inspires or trains you. Begin, or lengthen, a meditation practice. Build healthy, inner habits to inspire beautiful inner and outer growth.