The very nature of nature is grounding. There is an inherent challenge that forces us to be present. We’re stripped from the illusions of our limitations and ultimately reacquainted with the intuitive nature of our being. Our wildish self.
Where the Mountain Meets the Sea
August 4th, 2018 was absolutely the best day of my life because I got to marry my best friend. I feel incredibly blessed to have found my equal partner in life. A man as wild in spirit and vulnerable in heart as me. During our wedding ceremony, which took place on a rocky beach on Lummi Island, Washington, we asked Zack's mother, Holly to do a reading. She read aloud an original poem that simply put, blew everyone away. It embodies not only the love that Zack and I share together, but also how integral nature has been in our lives as individuals, and together as a couple. I wanted to share this poem with the Howl Often community, because I believe that every wild woman (and wild man) will connect with, and appreciate the essence of these words, and the remarkable magic of love. ~ Alexandra
August Theme: Experience the Unseen
When we are exploring in nature, or just living our daily lives, so much of what we process is what we see. Yet when we open up our innate sensing, we can feel and experience so much more. I know this seems like voodoo non-sense so just keep with me for a little, it's worth it!
When you meet someone, sometimes you may have a strong feeling about them - this is your sensing working. You may feel that the person exemplifies goodness and love or oppositely you get a strong feeling that you need to keep your distance. When you sense this, you are reacting to the energy or mass of that person. This is not thought-driven, meaning your brain does not say hey, i saw that this person is warm and loving, it's ok to open up. This is your sensing input kicking in. Just as your sight, smell, and hearing are inputs for your surroundings, you have a sensing screen that once activated can guide you through situations, and feel the environments you explore.
To activate it, start being aware of what you sense not what thoughts you are having. To do this, go on a hike in nature, and whenever you have a thought, recognize it and then let it go. Slowly your thoughts will go away and your mind will be still. Now, from your sacrum to the top of your head (bottom to top), focus your breath moving up for the inhale and for the exhale focus on the feeling you get when in nature coming into your body. Over time, you will build up your sensing screen and start to feel your natural surroundings - the mountains, sky, rocks, water. After a hike, you usually feel better than the start. Now you can sense why - you will sense the calming impact of nature in a greater proportion.
When you are struggling with a person or situation, instead of thinking about it, sense it. Do the same exercise, balancing your body from the sacrum to the top of your head while you breathe and listen to what you sense on the subject you have a question about.
Experience the unseen.
A Trek To Empowerment
In the Fall of 2016 I began an empowerment journey. This journey began on a plane ride to Europe, and it is nowhere near over. Honestly, it may never end. However, there have been poignant moments of growth, healing, and empowerment along the way. One of these moments unfolded early on, as I walked the coast from Fira to Oia in Santorini, Greece. My mission was to rediscover myself after years of feeling lost; to find a way to empowerment once again.
July Theme: Harness Your Power
Harnessing your power is the power of self-acceptance. Part of self-acceptance is realizing when we need to reevaluate what no longer serves our growth. Now, when it’s the peak of our warm, summer months in the Northern Hemisphere is the perfect time to powerfully accept yourself - and more deeply explore your current patterns and relationships.
This process may stir some things up for you, and influence your interactions and reactions to be more emotionally charged, but recognizing when it’s time to move forward will only fuel your authentic power.
Summer Solstice
The summer solstice represents the longest day of sunlight for the year and the shortest night of the year. For centuries, the summer solstice has been a day of celebration. The Mayans, Aztecs, and the pagans of Stonehenge all celebrated the summer solstice and even placed a stone (the heel stone) in the path of the sun for summer solstice.