February 2022 – Inner Resourcing
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Photo by Melina Cronin
“Your inner world (the one that runs your outer experiences) is where everything comes from. If you don’t resonate with what is outside of you – then come within and connect with your true reality and project it out into your physical life”
We open February with the Aquarius New Moon which arrives Tuesday, February 1 @ 12:46 AM ET. We are being reminded to move forward with mindful awareness of where you have come from and what has gone before-- as well as where you are going. This theme of looking back/looking ahead. It is time for a new vision-- what is that new vision that can change the game? Where in our lives are we called to change?
WOMEN’S WINTER RETREAT with Kacey Morabito Grean and I will be playing my Crystal Harp in person.
February 25th - February 27th, 2022 at Mariandale Retreat Center, Ossining, NY.
It has been 2 years since I was last able to join my great friend Kacey at Mariandale to participate in one of her In Person Retreats and play the Crystal Harp in the most incredible space - the Chapel. Check out the amazing group of healers offered in this IN PERSON retreat at such a reasonable price. I look forward to seeing you all there. Learn More
The image to the left is from February 2020 when we were last able to be at Mariandale in person and share the incredible experience of an in-person retreat. It was such an honor to play in the Chapel. I so look forward to this again.
February also opens with Chinese New Year on 2/1/22. It is the year of the Water Tiger – a unique symbol that only comes every 60 years. February while being the shortest month action packs events and holidays – perhaps to help those of us who live in the part of the planet that is deep in winter now. February 2nd marks Groundhog Day, Imbolc (St. Bridget’s Day - Ireland) and Candlemas (Catholic Calendar). Later in the month we also celebrate the Superbowl on 2/13 and Valentine’s Day on 2/14. For those who are interested I added a bit more about these holidays at the end of this post.
All of these holidays around the start of February have themes of purification, hibernation, seeking signs of spring, planting seeds (at least in our mind first), return of the light and lengthening of the days. The larger metaphysical themes are spiritual awakenings, initiations, dedication, inner journeys and honoring the divine within. It really is about our INNER RESOURCES now.
During stressful times like these, it’s more important than ever to resource your mind and body. Resourcing is a key principle in trauma healing. It refers to anything that supports your health. There are external resources like your relationships with loved ones or pets, nutritious food, sunshine etc. There are internal resources as well; they come from within. These include sleeping, spiritual or mindfulness practices, breath work, accepting the parts of you that are hard to accept and so on. During stressful times, the more we connect to these resources, the more we can nurture our mental, emotional and physical well-being.
Here’s a simple resourcing practice that seeks to quiet your mind, calm your nervous system, and reconnect you to the health that’s ever-present in your body.
Set aside 10 minutes or so. Find a comfortable position, either seated or lying down. Take a few deep breaths and on your next exhale, exhale your awareness into your body. Once you’ve dropped your attention into your body, notice the sensations that are present. Open your mind to perceive more. Notice the range of sensations, some of which may be pleasant and others less so. Keep an open and curious attitude, noticing the quality, tone, shape, and movement of these sensations.
When you notice areas of tension of pain, acknowledge them without judging. Let them be there without becoming attached or worried. As you’re scanning your body, are there emotions present? Are there certain areas of your body that you can more easily perceive and others less so? Accept and allow whatever you notice.
Let your mind relax for a few moments as you let go of all that you’ve noticed. Take a couple deep breaths. If your mind wanders during this practice, let that happen and then invite it back to the felt sense of your body. Because your emotions are more intense and uncomfortable when stressed, it’s easy to numb out. When you’re in your body, you’re close to if not connected to your feelings, which in times like these include grief, anger, frustration, sadness, etc.
The more we can stay in your body, the more these feelings can pass through you. As they do, it’s important to have this inner safe haven and resource where your attention can go when you need a break and the feelings are too much. This inner resourcing practice can quiet your mind, remind your nervous system that you’re safe, and reconnect you to the health that’s in your body regardless of your ailments. It’s also a way to work through physical pain, as it can help shift the brain from fixating on problems in your body to experiencing pain within the context of a healthy system.
AMETHYST is our Crystal of the Month: (Birthstone for Feb) TRUST • INTUITION • SPIRITUALITY
Despite being easily found, this stone has a long history of being associated with luxury. In the Chinese philosophy of Feng Shui, amethyst is encouraged to be placed in the wealth corner, where it is said to amplify the flow of prosperity into the home. Amethyst healing properties are as plentiful as the stone itself. It is thought of mostly as a protective stone. As it is linked to the crown chakra, it is helpful in purifying the mind and clearing it of negative thoughts including stress and anxiety. Amethyst is especially useful the workplace as it enhances communication, intuition and prosperity.
Amethyst is the birthstone for February, and known as the Zodiac stone for Pisces. It is also linked to the element of Wind. This element is believed to activate the mind, and assist in clairvoyance and intuition. It is the ideal stone for meditation that seeks to discover the reason for certain behaviors or actions, both on the part of oneself, or another. Whether you are looking to meditate for relaxation, abundance, protection or communication, a good mantra is: “I trust myself, I see what I need and it will come to me."
A bit more about the February Holidays courtesy of The History Channel.
Candlemas commemorates the ritual purification of Mary, 40 days after the birth of her son Jesus. This day also marks the ritual presentation of the baby Jesus to God in the Temple at Jerusalem. ... The festival is called Candlemas because this was the day that all the Church's candles for the year were blessed.
Chinese New Year: The origin of the Chinese New Year is itself ancient and obscured by the amount of time. It is popularly recognized as the Spring Festival and celebrations last 15 days and often include massive amounts of fireworks! Preparations include, a huge clean-up (purification) to sweep away any traces of bad luck. On the eve and day of Chinese New Year there are massive feasts including whole fish to symbolize the abundance of the coming year. Every Chinese New Year there is a new zodiac animal associated with that year.
Imbolc is based on a Celtic tradition and is meant to mark the halfway point between winter solstice and the spring equinox. Imbolc is just one of several pre-Christian holidays highlighting some aspect of winter and sunlight, and heralding the change of seasons.
Valentine’s Day: Occurs every February 14. Across the United States and in other places around the world, candy, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. Like many festivals and holidays, this one too has it roots in Paganism. Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine’s Day. It was not until much later, however, that the day became definitively associated with love. During the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14 was the beginning of birds’ mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of Valentine’s Day should be a day for romance.
Love, Light and Blessings to you all. Rose Healing Center is here to help you manifest what you wish to bring in to your life whether it be peace, health, creativity or something else. We offer a variety of services (either virtually or in person) including energy healing, intuitive guidance, sound healing and body work.