Reflections and practices will be offered each day. Journalling the thoughts, images, dreams, emotions, sensations and experiences that arise throughout the entire week can deepen your journey and the process of healing and transformation.

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Offered by Shelley Ostroff

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DAY ONE: INVITATION

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Return to loving essence – Reflections and practices 

 

1.   Shedding:  Sense into what is essential in your day and nourishing your life , and also sense into that which is not essential and creates more noise or clutter than value – whether these are thoughts, relationships, habits or material objects. Allow yourself to consider what it would mean to shed that which is no longer nourishing or how you can  transform them. Discover ways to give material objects that you do not use to others, honoring the earth matter from whence they came and all that went into them. Allow them to be received and appreciated by others. Practice the concept of “less is more” as you reconnect with the essence of your experiences.

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2.   Slowing down: Practice moving and engaging in slow motion, attending to the nuances of our mind-body experience. Slowing down allows us to deepen our present moment awareness. What for instance does it feel like to notice yourself walking slowly, chewing slowly, opening your hand slowly, talking more slowly?

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3.   Quietness: Create silence for yourself and spend time listening to it in soft stillness. What does it sound like? What does it feel like?

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4.   Nourishment: An invitation to eat raw fruit and vegetables attending to the colors, tastes, textures and to the sensation in your body during and after eating.  Eat only what your body needs, chewing slowly and with attention, giving thanks for the food and water before you eat or drink.

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5.  Grounding: Spend time in nature if possible, connecting to the Earth.  Imagine yourself as a tree with roots going down towards the center of the Earth and branches spreading above. Feel the solidity of the Earth supporting you – enabling you to find a soft and powerful stability within you.

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6.  Honoring: Consciously honor the physical world - the essence of the natural world as well as the man made objects and their unique story of evolution and creation. Notice something in nature that you feel called to – imagine it is speaking to you – what would it say? Notice a physical man-made object that calls you – if it could tell you something about its life/itself – what would it say? Thank the objects for sharing its wisdom.

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7.  Intention Setting: Set your intention for the week. What would you like the week to bring for you?  Imagine this outcome is already here – what does it feel like? With your imagination make that experience come alive in this moment.

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8.  Blessing: What is your blessing for yourself, your loved ones, for humanity and for the planet and all species?

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9.  Gratitude: Offer thanks to all that is essential and nourishing in your life and all that you are ready to release for the lessons and gifts they have given you.