Permission to Go Dark:

Hi!

How are you?

Sleep has been challenging for me lately, leaving me irritated and a bit grumpy. 😠 I wake up in the middle of the night, my mind racing, my thoughts writing an endless list of things to do for the house, family, and my business. As I continue to plug away at my new website, sentences run through my brain. Swirling thoughts, puzzle pieces trying to fit together.

When sleep eludes me, I swing my legs out of bed, silently pad my way to the kitchen, grab a glass of water, and peek outside.

The large glass windows afford me an expansive view of the night sky. Some nights the Moon shines through the glass; other nights she is absent depending on the lunar cycle. As I sip my water, I simply gaze at the view.

Some nights, I grab my phone and wireless headphones as I head back to bed. There are several sleep meditations that remain on my Insight Timer App.

Yoga Nidra for Sleep by Jennifer Percy

Breathing into Sleep by Bethany Auriel-Hagen

Sleep Stories on Channi App (paid version)

Box Breath - Remain lying in bed

• Inhale: Slowly breathe in through your nose for 4 seconds, allowing your belly to expand.

• Hold: Hold your breath for 4 seconds.

• Exhale: Gently exhale through your mouth for 4 seconds.

• Hold: Pause and hold your breath for 4 seconds

Repeat for several rounds; hopefully, your sleepy state will return. 😉

We are entering the last phase of Gemini Season, moving our way towards the Solstice. The element of Air can be invigorating, filling our lives with fresh inspiration and new ideas. It’s an exciting time of learning, new revelations, and insights. If we do not take time and opportunities to ground these thoughts, our nervous system may become overextended and overstimulated.

Despite our best intentions, the amount of input may be too much for our nervous system to handle.

I am working on my website, Blythe Spirit. During the night, my mind pictures colors, fonts, and images. Sorting through old journals, looking for inspiration, I went down the rabbit hole. The vast number of journals and writings over the years became overwhelming and daunting.

My anxiety began to flare up, especially with my reduced time moving outside in nature. Spending hours seated at the computer, my thoughts race out of control.

What about a logo? I don’t have one.

Which colors to choose? Finally committed to five.

What do I want to do, and who do I serve?

I felt pressured to wrap up my entire identity, knowledge, skills, and desire into a tight presentation. None of that felt right. I was looking for perfection, yet struggled against the concept.

• I am not interested in selling a transformation.

• I resist listing the pain points of the women I wish to work with.

• I am worried about how I will be received.

I simply want to create and share the skills and tools that I use in my life. I am interested in building true connections and community with people who are curious and open.

What if it didn’t matter?

What if my wording wasn’t trendy or followed the “right” method?

What if I were different?

When I wake up groggy most mornings, I unroll my yoga mat on the porch. Before I move, I light a candle, burn a sage smudge stick, and dab homemade essential oil on my third eye and wrists. I take a moment to pause. I greet myself and welcome the day with a blessing and an intention.

As I allow the breath to come, I invite gentle movements to unwind the tension in my body. As I knock off the rust from the previous night’s sleep, I open to the possibility of a new day.

I realized that I could bring the same energy to my website and to my business.

What if I didn’t plan everything out?

What if I simply listened to what is present, allowing intuition to guide me?

What if I asked, “What is true now? What am I not seeing?”

When I get quiet, I drop the questions into my heart like a stone into a still body of water. I allow the ripples to slowly make their way throughout my body. Without trying to fix or label any of the thoughts or sensations, I stay.

I listen.

Some days there is no answer. Sometimes the answer surprises me, walking down the driveway or washing the dishes.

This beautiful card was my companion throughout May as part of my Juicy Oracle Reading by Meghan Genge. I am guided through the year with a single oracle or tarot card per month. This month was a welcome opportunity to return home to myself.

“Who are you? It may sound like an abrupt question, but it’s one you should be asking yourself every day.” - Sahara Rose

In May, I began my journaling with this short yet challenging question.

Drop the titles or roles you play, who are you?

The word Svadhyaya comes from two Sanskrit words: sva (meaning self or soul) and adhyaya (meaning lesson or study). It represents the practice of sacred self-study and is the fourth Niyama (personal observance) in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras.

Throughout the month, this card was a reminder and a guidepost for my sadhana, my personal practice. I continued to deepen my physical practice of yoga, breath, and meditation. This card reminded me of my dedication and devotion to the practice of quiet self-reflection. To be present as a way to reduce the mental chatter and clutter of life.

Journaling continues to be used alongside my morning practice. I use small journals in addition to large notebooks for my visual journaling. Open a page, allow your brain to rest, and let your pen move. Grab some magazines and rip out images or text that speak to you. Let go of creating a pretty page or trying to make sense out of your spread.

Be absorbed in the practice and play.

• What are the most common, repetitive thoughts that run through your head daily?

• What specific masks do you present to the world versus who you are when you are alone?

• What limiting beliefs about yourself are you ready to release in order to make space for greater clarity and ease?

• When things get difficult or stressful, how do you escape, either physically or mentally?

I hope that you are moving through Gemini Season with curiosity and ease. Remember to ground, breathe, and listen within.

Talk to you soon,

❤️ Blythe