Musings from the Journey
Enhance your life and fortify a deeper connection with your True Self.
 While we prepare to slow down a bit, connect, and remember what matters this week, I want to shower a little love on indigenous folks. Their communities and families have been through so much over the last several centuries, and despite hardship and injustice, they are still here. They have stood for sovereignty, human rights, and clean air and water from the beginning. Thanksgiving isn't just a holiday about gratitude for them, it is a remembrance of all the trauma their communities have been through.
We can be a part of the healing from this history and patterns. It doesn't come from sweeping it under the rug, and moving on. It comes from real repair of the harm, showing respect, love, and care. This Thanksgiving, I invite you to think about how you can give back to the native people that are local to your area, and across the United States. This might be support through uplifting their work, voices, and art. Perhaps it's by pouring resources into their communities, or supporting land back campaigns. There are many layers to such wide spread intergenerational healing that will require acts large and small. A couple indigenous authors I am grateful for include: Robin Wall Kimmerer: A mother, scientist, professor, and member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. Robin is author of Braiding Sweetgrass, one of my favorite books. Her writing is soothing, compelling and honors the land, and many of the stories of native people. She recently published The Serviceberry which I am eager to read. James Vukelich Kaagegaabaw: A member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe, a renowned international speaker, digital creator, and author of 'The Seven Generations and the Seven Grandfather Teachings. James is passionate about preserving and sharing the Ojibwe language, and wisdom teachings of native elders guiding us towards Minobimaadiziwin, "the good life"—a life of harmony, free from contradiction or conflict. Birchbark Books is a native owned bookshop in The Twin Cities that features indigenous authors, speakers, and artists. Do you have other indigenous folks that you would like to uplift? Share with us in the comments. ~Sarah P.S. If you are looking for gift certificates for our services, you can find them here. Prices will be going up in 2026 (more on that soon), so this is a great time to stock up at the current rate. Though there is not a rush, you can purchase these until the end of the year. Enjoy the week. Connect with yourselves, your loved ones, and the land. Focus on what matters. :)
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 Daylight is waning and the cold ever more present here in the North. Across the globe we continue to see genocide, ignorance, oppression, injustice. It can be hard to live life with your heart and eyes wide open, to be awake to the dysfunction in the whole, in our families, in ourselves. Sometimes it can seem easier to be in denial of what is happening, if you have the privilege to be able to.
During this season, so many traditions have ways to remind us of light despite the growing darkness. We might light candles, or turn on twinkle lights. Maybe we go for walks during the midday sun, or take extra vitamin D. We might connect with prose or scripture that connects us to something deep within us, deep within life. It is an opportunity to remember the innate radiance within us. It might need a little uncovering, or a little fuel, but it is always there. Winter invites quiet reflection, hygge, and warmth. An opportunity to reconnect with the wisdom of our ancestors and traditions. A chance to reassess, and to see through the darkness. Sometimes, I don't like what I see. The harshness of the world can feel too much for my sensitive soul sometimes. I grieve for the way humans stumble around in the dark hurting each other, without taking a moment to pause and learn to move intentionally through the world. Yet, I remember that there are other souls out there like you. Others who also are uncovering their light, who shine brighter and brighter with each act of kindness, truth speaking, and self-awareness. That we are all like stars in the sky. If we keep our light shining, maybe we help others navigate through the unknown and connect with their light within. If nothing else, it helps us remember that we are not alone to see other lights out there, though the darkness might seem great. So as this year winds to a close in the coming weeks, and holiday celebrations unfold, I suppose I just wanted to express a little gratitude. Thank you for doing your part. Thank you for your light. Thank you for being a part of this constellation of community. May the light within and around you bring you gentle comfort, and warmth this time of year and always. Blessings, Sarah From my heart to yours.  Hi Dear One,
Whew! What a year! I'm letting out a big exhale, and looking forward to the ritualistic pause that so many of us take at the end of the year. We certainly have a lot to reflect upon, and continue to process. I imagine we will be doing so for several years. I've been holding with great curiosity what future historians will say about this period. What will it be like for us to hear their 20/20 perspective by then? I suppose time will tell. No matter what, we have changed. The world has changed. My heart hopes it is for the better, though I know that the direction we take is still up to us. Will we integrate the wisdom, compassion, and humility we have cultivated, or will we boomerang back to the old, disconnected ways of being when given the chance? The choice will still be there for us, when it is safe to ease back into in-person relating, traveling, working, etc. May we bring the threads of goodness from this time with us as we move forward. What is on your heart today? I'm here with a listening ear if you wish to share tales of relief, heartbreak, gratitude, loneliness, exhaustion. Wishing you greater space to feel all that's there, a balm for any tender or raw aspects of you, and lots of deep, nourishing rest. The support from each of you during this pandemic era is something for which I am incredibly grateful. This community kept me going (on many levels) this year. I am deeply appreciative of the loving words offered, just because, to check in, and share. For how you all adapted with me to these times, enjoying remote sessions and classes, wearing masks, and doing our part to stay safe while doing this work. The trust that you have vested in me with your well-being is not something I take for granted. Your support, referrals, and generosity has kept my business steady during these uncertain times. Embrace Your Essence will be able to continue to help others touch into the depth of their being and heal into 2021 and beyond. When I was running on reserves this year, your warmth, kindness, and generosity renewed my hope. I don't fully have the words to describe this yet, but to move through these hard times together, while still buoying each other up was a real gift. The fabrics we have woven to catch each other in our web of connection this year feels so meaningful and profound. Thank you for your care, and letting me have some place in your life (and inbox). Monday happens to be the Winter Solstice, and the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. On this darkest night of the year, these planets will appear close to each other in the southwestern sky just above the horizon in the hour or so following sunset. This will be the first time we will be able to view Jupiter and Saturn this near each other since March 4, 1226. The next conjunction of this kind won't come again until 2080. If you are available, find a spot without trees or buildings blocking your way to watch the sunset and linger for a while. Bundle up, gather your lovies, a blanket, warm drink, binoculars or telescope if you have them, and marvel and wonder. While you're looking up, think of all of us around the globe who will be soaking it in along with you, and perhaps those who have watched centuries before, and yet to glimpse it in the future. For more info on viewing, check out this article from Scientific American. Fingers crossed for clear skies! Sending lots of love, and wishes for your peace, health, and fulfillment this holiday season and into the new year. Warmly, Sarah |
Sarah Barlow
Reiki Master Teacher and Owner of Embrace Your Essence Sign up for our E-Letters Here
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