Something Easy
a list of what's keeping me sane + some books
I wanted to keep it simple today - stay kind of surface. Sagittarius season is already kicking some stones loose in my life, particularly in my thoughts around my career, and 6 months pregnant is not really the time I feel most sound decision making is happening for those kinds of life choices. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe it’s exactly the time to contemplate major change and have the motivation to take it. But let’s leave that alone for today and, like I said, stay a little closer to the surface.
Here’s what’s been keeping me afloat lately:
Morning Spiritual Practice
I’ve been solidly back on my TBM work. Since starting in on this program 7 years ago (really can’t believe it’s been that long) it has been nothing short of life changing in the way it’s shifted my perception as a person who now sees the possibilities in everything. It helps me identify the areas in my life that need unblocking from limiting beliefs and finding spots to focus on in my life while I take steps towards the things I want. It’s an inner work program that hooks you with manifestation, but what you’re really getting in the end is a truer version of self. Sometimes I don’t have the bandwidth for the work, so I let it lapse. But in moments of uncertainty, it’s always where I end up again.
This week, I also found myself digging out my tarot decks and I can’t tell you the last time that box was opened. It felt good to start my day on my yoga mat, light some candles, pull cards, and hold space for internal grounding before getting sucked into the brain-heavy work of my job all day. My favorite decks are the Aquarian Deck and my Motherpeace Deck.
Herbalism
I don’t know if it’s the winter season rolling in, or motherhood approaching, or my renewed spiritual practices leading me back - but I’ve been feeling a return to herbs that was a major interest of mine in my early 20s. I’ve started restocking my jars and and reading up on all the herbal recommendations for various symptoms I’m having. I’m on the hunt for a gorgeous hutch on facebook marketplace to store all these in and encourage this to stick around. As I approach baby time, my crunchy side is returning in full force with the intent to be very conscious of what my family is using to heal our ailments and support our bodies. I’ve got jars of fire cider at the ready. I’ve got second and third trimester loose tea blends all prepped. Cinnamon, cardamom, & nettle oatmeal has been on constant repeat. Every night I baste myself like a thanksgiving turkey with a lavender, chamomile, and marshmallow root oil my fellow pregnant friend and I mixed up for ourselves in September.
This practice feels like a connection to my present self as well as my childhood, where I spent endless hours playing witch and making mixtures of sticks and leaves and flowers and anything I could find outside. It brings with it a connection and consciousness that’s especially appealing to my soul right now as I prepare for the mystery that awaits.
Home Improvement
Theo and I have been really working hard on our home and the editing and re-engineering of our space has been instrumental in feeling like there’s a place to put this restless energy and see extremely satisfying results. Little tweaks like new wall art and changing the switchplates starts to compound and feel like my my home is more and more reflecting my internal needs. We’ve spent 8 years making this place into our sanctuary and it feels like our mutual design voice is starting to really be a rhythm we find much quicker than when we first moved in together. We love different woods, earth tones, warm lights, gold finishes. Our colors come with fabrics and prints and paintings. Just enough knick knacks to give personality without too much clutter. Most objects and art pieces carrying a story or made/gifted with love by a friend. We’re onto more final tweaks in a lot of our rooms and when I think back to where we started with no furniture and our questionable design choices in 2017, I’m very proud to bring people into our cozy space - and most excited to have made a home for a new being to form their first memories in.
Honestly, that’s where I’m at with the stuff that’s keeping me sane. Of course, I’ve also been reading and don’t think at 62 so far I’ll hit my 75 total goal but that’s very okay. Currently in the last 100 pages of Wuthering Heights and let me tell you it is some tea. Everyone is crazy in that book and I’m not loving it but still very excited for the new film albeit mostly for the costuming - my love for Victorian period pieces knows no bounds.
Since we’re here though, maybe I’ll end with some favorite books for the year. Favorites to me means it felt like a delicious feast and I reveled in the words and plot and characters every time I opened the book and felt sad when it ended. I tend to avoid directly recommending books because I’m not keen on the responsibility of suggesting what others should engage with. I loved these and they may not be for you. So if you read them and don’t like them, don’t tell me. Go find things you do like.
In no particular order:
Orbital by Samantha Harvey
All the Way to the River by Elizabeth Gilbert
The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
The Conditions of Will by Jessa Hastings
The Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control by Katherine Morgan Schafler
Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors
till next,
xoxo LB