I invite you to take a big, deep breath in.

And then an even longer, fuller breath out.

Do that again.

A few times actually.

This is a hack for engaging the parasympathetic nervous system (the nervous system part that slows everything down) and is a simple calming tool for your system.

And from there, I invite you to read on for some reflections on those amazing trees, thoughts on the seasons (internal and external), and an invitation to a special event.

What I've got for you today...

1) Observations of tree medicine

2) Reflections on the wisdom of changing trees

3) How I love to support the process – and how it can look – for others, and for you

4) Ritual marking completion of one big cycle/ season

Observations of tree medicine

This has been the first time in a long time that I’ve had the opportunity to experience a real changing of seasons. (Arizona has temperature and seasonal shifts, but nothing like the northeastern corner of the US.)

From our new home in New England, I had the delight of watching the leaves change from green to orange, yellow and red (breathtakingly beautiful!).

And because the drive to and from my child’s school is a pretty expansive nature scene of trees, mountains and water, I was able to notice these shifts happening slowly, daily (so much more than subtle than just showing up for a snapshot of fall…).

See all the different colors?

• Some of the trees shifted from one color to the next quickly, the entire tree moving in one rhythm.

• Some of the trees were on a different timeline. They held onto their green until most of the trees around them were at the end of their vibrant stage and many were shedding leaves.

• And some of the trees had different internal rhythms, remaining partially green, partially red/ yellow, and only at the very end of color cycle of their leaves did the green ones start to shift.

• Then, in what seemed like a very swift shift, all of the leaves had fallen and the branches were bare. And now I am welcomed by wide open space between the branches, and the color that filled the gaps has given way to open patches of sky.

Reflections on the wisdom of changing trees

And of course, because my medicine work involves helping people make changes, aligning with seasons and cycles of life, and calling upon nature as metaphor and teacher, I was happy to explore the analogies for human change.

I found myself reflecting on a few things...

The simple acknowledgement that we humans also move through changing inner seasons and conditions– sometimes aware, sometimes unaware, sometimes connected and tuned in and sometimes less attuned.
How sometimes, there are parts of us ready for change, and other parts of us holding tightly to what is familiar and resisting change.
How sometimes we are all in and ready to shift and shine!
How sometimes we are sure that no parts of us are ready, and so we just hold on to the very last moment, until we can no longer resist – and then something (internal or external to us) pushes us out of what has been and into what’s next.
And how sometimes, when we have released what needed to shed, we might feel quite bare and exposed, but it leaves us room to explore and space to work with…

Supporting the process in others – and how it can look

I love to support this process in humans – to watch as they do their work of clearing away what’s holding on, releasing what's no longer needed (even if it had its moment of beauty), and creating safety and well-being for the changes, so that they can make space for next steps, or their unabashed, most authentic expression in the world.

This might look like

- letting go of old, unhealthy patterns to re-claim health and make choices that really serve your body/ mind/ heart/ spirit

- creating boundaries around real self-care in the midst of intense service work rhythms

- completing the memoir that’s been longing to be birthed into the world

- taking a new post in a new country

- getting the business off the ground you’ve been working on and dreaming into being for years

- or finding space for your inner artist to be expressed every single day.

(These are a few of the things some of my beloved clients have been up to in recent months…)

You and the seasons?

And how about you?

How do you relate to the change of seasons, and the wisdom of nature reflecting back at you?

What's opening up in you as you settle into winter (if you're in the Northern hemisphere, of course)?

What are you resisting while deepening into the winter season?

And how might honoring the season you’re in make space for what you’re really wanting to make happen (even if, for now, it's being worked under the surface)?

A ritual marking completion of one big cycle/ season

As I’m reflecting on this, I’m about to head into my now annual ritual of doing a year-end review and visioning for the coming year.

I’ll share more on this later, but it’s one of the most powerful things I do each year – acknowledging all of what I’ve created, brought in, shifted, how I’ve grown, what’s been transformed, and what I’ve let go of.

And after celebrating all of that, I dive into visioning what’s next in the coming seasons – the next year.

I’ve been leading groups in this process for a couple of years now and the feedback is consistent – this is a powerful process, and solid support for what’s here for you right now, as well as a big help for guiding you into what's next.

So instead of New Year’s resolutions (that we all know don’t work, and can leave us more discouraged than motivated), you get to celebrate all you’ve done and been, and vision what’s next for you. I’ll be leading Honoring And Releasing 2022, Visioning 2023, my next community retreat (virtual) for you, my community, to do just this.

We'll touch more into the wisdom of winter in my next note.

For now, many wishes for a beautiful end to this week, with hopes for extra special nourishment and care for you.

And as always, I remind you that the world needs you well.

The world needs you honoring the seasons you move in and through.

Because when YOU are well, and honoring what’s showing up for you, you can show up so much more fully and authentically in your work, medicine, activism, leadership, humanitarian aid, parenting, teaching, business, life, service, and the world.

And that, dear one, is world-changing.

Sending you much love and many blessings,

Kelly

P.S. And I'd love to hear your thoughts on transitions, the seasons, how you're honoring them, or where it's challenging for you.

The responses I receive always bring me joy, and help me to feel connected in this space, so please connect!

Kelly Lubeck, MPH, RYT